Operation Herb Spring: 31 tonnes of cannabis seized in Osun forest
The NDLEA's Operation Herb Spring raided 27 storage camps in the Orita-Ijebu forest reserve near Ikire, Osun State, on 18 November 2016, destroying 2,317 bags of cannabis weighing nearly 31 tonnes and arresting eleven suspected farmers. The agency put the street value at N309 million.
🇳🇬 Orita-Ijebu forest reserve, Ikoyi area of Ikire, Osun State · Nigeria
NDLEA officers raided 27 camps used as storage facilities inside farmland at the Orita-Ijebu forest reserve, in the Ikoyi area of Ikire, destroying 2,317 bags of cannabis weighing 30,992kg in an operation codenamed Operation Herb Spring.[1][2]The raid followed intelligence on cannabis cultivation in the forest, and a Special Enforcement Team coordinated it on the orders of the agency’s chairman.[1]
Eleven suspected farmers were arrested: Kofi Mensah, Godwin Monday, Albert Williams Aniama, Enudi Liberty Onyeka, Peter Nelson, Harrison Ewoka Francis, Ossai Nelson, Sulaiman Niyi, Dominic Tobechukwu, Mutiu Kolawole and Chucks Oghenekwu.[1]Sixty-seven bags were kept as exhibits for investigation and prosecution, and the agency said all suspects would be arraigned soon.[1][2]
The NDLEA estimated the street value at N309 million and said drug cartels had invaded government forest reserves for cannabis cultivation, warning that food and cash crops were giving way to cannabis.[1][2]
Case data
Every number and detail the sources state, with the sources that state it.
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