Men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Edo State Command
have discovered a large quantity of harvested dried weeds of cannabis
sativa in Ugbubezi forest.
The drug exhibits, of 34 bags of compressed cannabis weighing 680kg
and 94 bags of dried weeds weighing 1,316kg with a total weight of
1,996kg were evacuated from the warehouse.
Two suspected members of the drug cartel working at the warehouse
were also apprehended. The estimated street value of the drug is
N20million. .
One of the suspects, Augustine Egwutu, 45, married with three
children, said he used to cultivate plantain and pepper, but wildfire
engulfed his farm and he lost everything.
“I could not feed my family and my landlord threatened to evict
me for not being able to pay my rent. This was the reason that made me
go into cannabis business”, Egwutu stated.
Gabriel Orji, 38, who cultivates cassava and plantain, told
investigators that he joined the cannabis business because he needed
multiple sources of income. The suspects who hail from Delta State will
soon be charged to court.