The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recovered at least eight tons of Indian hemp and 8,000 bottles of codeine in raids in Edo, Delta, Bauchi, Kaduna, Gombe, Kogi, Anambra and the FCT in the last week.

Its spokesman, Femi Babafemi, stated on Sunday in Abuja that operatives stormed Ujiogba Forest in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo on Wednesday, November 29, where they recovered 5,988kg of Indian hemp.

Mr Babafemi added that a 22-year-old, Mson Bunde, also known as Tete Peter Joseph, found in a hut on the Indian hemp farm, was arrested.

He also stated that NDLEA officers seized at least 120,000 capsules of tramadol on November 27.

Mr Babafemi added that the drugs were concealed in electronic music equipment loaded in a Jos-bound bus but were intercepted on the Onitsha-Awka Highway in Anambra.

“One hundred-and-twenty-three blocks of Indian hemp weighing 73kg were recovered from a suspect, Abdullahi Bello, on Gombe-Bauchi Road in Gombe State on November 29.

“Operatives in Abuja also seized 168 blocks of Indian hemp weighing 101kgs from the store of a fleeing drug dealer in the Kabusa area of the FCT,’’ Mr Babafemi stated.

Mr Babafemi added that at least 8,000 bottles of codeine syrup were intercepted in a vehicle on the Abuja- Kaduna Road on December 1, and the driver, Shamsu Isiyaku and his conductor, Muhammad Maina, were arrested.

He also stated that NDLEA operatives arrested one Ernest Esechie (30) with 44.4kg of Indian hemp on Gwantu-Sanga Road, Kaduna State, also on December 1.

In Kogi, NDLEA officers arrested Ahmad Umar (18) with 46.4kg of Indian hemp at a checkpoint in Kabba.

In Bauchi, the officers arrested one Jamilu Zakari (32) at Kofar Idi with 125 blocks of Indian hemp weighing 146kg.

On November 29, NDLEA operatives recovered 542.3kg of Indian hemp from a suspect, Festus Egeogoli (32), when his base at Jakpa Road, Warri, Delta, was raided.

Mr Babafemi stated that another 542.3kg of Indian hemp was seized from a store in the area. 

(NAN)