The Kogi State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency,(NDLEA), has destroyed N1.5 billion worth of Cannabis Sativa, popularly known as Indian hemp.
The destroyed illicit drug, according to the Commandant, Mr. Alfred Adewumi, stretches over four kilometres of farms in Igalamela/Odolu Local Government Area of the State.
Speaking with journalists in Lokoja after the destruction of the farms at Kara Forest in Agbokete Community, Akpanya on Wednesday, Mr. Adewumi, lamented how Kogi state is gradually being turned into a producer of illicit drugs.
He expressed worry over the changing status of Kogi State from a transit point to cultivating illicit drug.
“Our assumption is that Kogi State , even though it is surrounded by some states that are notorious for cannabis Sativa cultivation, is just simply a transit point because of her strategic location, but we are shock how such a cannabis Sativa plantation of this huge proportion could be discovered in the state,” he lamented.
He further revealed that the startling discovery was as a result of intelligence gathered by the operatives of the command who had placed the suspect on surveillance and was subsequently arrested.
He explained further: “It was actually a community Cannabis Sativa farm business where over four kilometres of arable land were dedicated for cultivation of the illicit drug.”
Speaking with journalists, the suspect , Ameh Joseph, said that he is the owner of a section of the farms, stressing that he ventured into cannabis sativa business when he had economic crisis.
Joseph pointed out that he had once been employed as farm manager in charge of cannabis Sativa at Ogbese in Ondo State in 1995 with yearly salary of N85, 000 and N100, 000, but regretted venturing into the business.
