The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted no fewer than 4.8 tonnes of skunk in Imo, Edo, Ondo, Kano, and Ekiti States, respectively.

A statement by the director, media and advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, stated this on Sunday in Abuja.

Mr Babafemi said that operatives in Imo intercepted a Mercedes Benz container truck marked ABN 418 YN, parked in an isolated area along Owerri – Onitsha expressway on Sunday, Oct. 15.

He said that a search of the abandoned truck led to the recovery of 168 bags of skunk, weighing 1,854 kilogrammes.

“Not less than 1,381.3 kgs of the same substance were seized in four interdiction operations in parts of Edo state.

“This includes Ekpon community, Igueben LGA; Iguiye forest in Ovia North East LGA; Iruekpen, Ndokwa West, where a suspect, Samuel Nwocha, was arrested, and Egwalor village in Onwude LGA.

“Also, the duo of Obune Prince and Chika Obi was arrested, and their Audi 80 salon car marked BEN 406 CL loaded with cannabis sativa was recovered,” he said.

“Also, in Kano State, an ex-convict, Aminu Suleiman, 46, was arrested along with Haruna Abdurrahaman, 41, and Joseph Esezobor, 34, at Gadar Tamburawa area of the state on Saturday, October 14, while 106 kgs of cannabis were recovered from them.

“Aminu was first arrested with 22 kgs of cannabis on June 3, 2022, and convicted by the Court on November 24, 2022.

“Five other suspects: Inusa Ali, Yahaya Musa, Abba Audu, Ali Abubakar, and Bunu Kyari were also arrested at Gadar Tamburawa area of Kano on Monday, October 16, for dealing in 75.3 kgs of skunk,” he added.

Meanwhile, operatives of the Zone J Command of the agency seized 478 kgs of cannabis in a forest in Ikere Ekiti on Friday.

Mr Babafemi said that those of Ondo State command also recovered a total of 928 kgs of the same substance.

He said, “This was recovered in a bush by Shagari market, along Ifon-Owo express road, and Ibola camp, Ipele forest.”

“However, in Borno, a suspect, Sani Mohammed, 31, was arrested on Saturday with 182 kgs of cannabis at Njimtilo, along Maiduguri – Damaturu road,” the director said.

(NAN)