NDLEA ARRESTS 2 INDIAN HEMP DEALERS IN EKITI

Lagos - The Ekiti State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement
Ag-ency (NDLEA) made a major break through recently when its men raided
about 10 hectares of Indian Hemp plantation laocated on a sloppy hill in
the thick forest between Ikare-Ekiti and Igbara -Odo Ekiti in Ekiti South
Local Government Area of the state.

Among other journalists, this reporter was among others conducted round the
plantation by the officials of NDLEA led by the State Commander, Mr. Victor
Fadeyi, in company of three suspects involved in the cultivation of the
dangerous weed.

The suspects, who clai-med to be of the same father and hails from Ughelli
North Local Government Area of Delta State, were Monday Ebinum, 34, and
Steven Ebinum, 32. The plantation, the said, was jointly owned by them and
other Delta State indigenes called Yellow and Idowu, who now at large.

According to the NDLEA boss, the Indian hemp farm was raided on August 26,
based on a tip off by one of the agency's informant.

The NDLEA State Commander stated further that the culprits were able to
cultivate the weed in the area because it was a reserved forest where
apparently there was no farming activities.

Fadeyi said the discovery of the plantation, which was about 750 plots of
land, was an eye opener, stating that it has also proved wrong the notion
previously held by some people that Ekiti was a drug-free zone.

"Thirty-two cases of drug related offences are presently pending in various
courts in the state and about 45 suspects were arrested in the state
between the months of January and August. The agency also has in its
custody about 800 kilogrammes of cannabis as exhibits," he added.

The NDLEA boss, however, appealed to the State Government to assist the
command in the destruction of the 10 hectares of plantation since the
damaging implication it will have on the people if the substance eventually
finds its way into town.

Fadeyi, who said his men were working on other farms in the state, warned
those involved in the cultivation and sale of the illicit drug that it was
no longer going to be business as usual.