The Edo State command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency arrested 73 suspected cannabis cultivators and dealers and seized 10,094.75 kg of cannabis between January and March 2016.[1][2] The 73 comprised 60 males and 13 females, including 60-year-old Juliana Ogiefa.[1][2]
Officers impounded a cannabis-laden Toyota Hilux and a J5 bus carrying cannabis disguised as a pineapple shipment, and detected a warehouse in Okpuje forest in Owan West Local Government Area holding 2,590 kg.[1][2] Four suspected major dealers had their premises raided at Ekpoma, Auchi and Benin: Zakari Ogie, known as Kowa and owner of a guest house in Auchi, was held with 500 g of cannabis and 6.6 kg of alcohol mixed with cannabis; Solomon Alegbe with 900 g and two litres of the mixture; Famous Ossai with 6.5 kg; and Ogiefa.[2] Ogiefa had earlier been charged over cocaine and heroin and was rearrested while on bail.[1][2] Two Sokoto dealers, Umar Abubakar and Shuaibu Garba, were caught with 1,026.5 kg.[2] Five young farmers from Taraba and Plateau states were caught at a cannabis farm in Utesse forest, saying they were offered 70,000 naira each to cultivate for a season.[1][2]
State commander Buba Wakawa said a fake State Security Service identity card bearing the name Daniel Okolo was found in the Hilux, that an official narrowly escaped a trap set in the Owan West forest, and that the command exhibit room already held over 80,000 kg of cannabis.[1] NDLEA chairman Muhammad Abdallah vowed to identify, arrest and prosecute cannabis cultivators and warned that Edo’s position on drug trafficking routes made the clean-up a priority.[1]
