By Daud Olatunji

ABEOKUTA—Ogun State command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has arrested 84 suspects with cannabis sativa, otherwise known as Indian hemp, between January and June this year.

The sector commander of the agency in the state, Balla Fagae, disclosed this in Abeokuta after a roadshow organised by the agency in collaboration with other sister security agencies to mark this year’s World Drug Day.

Fagae explained that the command found 2,633 kilograms of Indian hemp and 35 kilograms of psychotropic substance with the suspects.

He further said that of the 84 suspects, the command had been able to secure 18 convictions in all the cases charged to court, while 30 of such cases were still pending at the Federal High Court.

He said: “Between January and June, NDLEA, Ogun State command has been able to arrest 84 culprits from whom we have been able to make drugs seizure totalling 2,633 kilograms of Indian hemp majorly, 35 kilograms of psychotropic substance.’’

Speaking on the strategy adopted by the command to reduce the rate at which cannabis sativa was being planted in the state, Fagae said: “We have embarked on Operation Weed Out, where we moved into the forest reserves where these drugs are cultivated, destroyed such before they are ripe for harvest because it will be difficult to be able to curtail such drugs if allowed to be transported into the city.”