The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Ekiti has destroyed no fewer than 3.7 hectares of hemp farmland at Ire-Ekiti Forest in Oye Local Government Area of the state.

Also, the agency arrested eight suspects, including  a woman  alleged to be involved in  cultivating the illegal crop and seized 1,465kg of substances suspected to be hemp from  the farmland.

Kabir Ibrahim, a Deputy Commander, Operations and Investigation and Isaac Fadare, the Principal Staff In-Charge of Operations at the NDLEA in the state, led the team for the operations to Ire-Ekiti on Friday.

Mr Ibrahim speaking with reporters shortly after the raiding of the three farms located about 20 kilometres  aways from the town,  said that the agency acted on tips about the hemp plantation in the forest in Ire-Ekiti.

“Acting on  pieces of information that there is Cannabis sativa plantation, popularly known as hemp here in Ire-Ekiti forest and that the people have started harvesting,we immediately swung into action.

“Identified the three farms, recovered 1,465 kg  of the substance and arrested eight suspects.

“The farms which are located about 20 kilometres aways from the town, spanned over 3.7 hectares of land mass,” he said.

Mr Ibrahim urged members of the communities to cultivate legitimate crops on their farm plantation as against planting of hemp.

(NAN)