By Ifeanyi Okolie

For 55-year-old Jacob Odumishi, illicit trade in cannabis is all he could presently do for a living. The suspect who is currently a guest at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Lagos State Command, was arrested recently when 1,294kg of dried weeds was found in his possession.

But operatives at the Agency, told Crime Guard that the suspect is currently on bail following his previous arrest in December 2009. According to a source, the suspect was first apprehended with 90 sacks of dried weeds suspected to be cannabis weighing 748.6kg concealed in a false compartment of his lorry at Ipaja area of Lagos on December 2009, after which he was granted bail. Crime Alert gathered that, this time, NDLEA operatives got wind of his activities in illicit drug trade, stormed his apartment, at Ipaja area of the state and recovered 1,294kg of cannabis.

The operatives were, however, said to be skeptical when they got intelligence report that Odumishji had gone back to drug trading. “When we got the information, we were at first skeptical because we thought he had learnt his lessons since he has a pending drug case in court. In line with our practice, we decided to confirm the information and it paid off,” Aliyu stated.

The suspect, Odumishi who expressed shock over the detection of 90 sacks of cannabis which he cleverly concealed in a false compartment of his lorry in 2009 is now asking for another chance. According to him, “I am in detention today because my friend wanted to dispose his old cannabis stock preparatory to the harvest season.

Unfortunately, we could not distribute the drugs immediately. My wife and children were crying profusely when I was re-arrested and I felt completely empty. I should have listened to my wife and children who warned me to shun drug trafficking considering what I went through when I was first arrested.”

The suspect who hails from Abbi town in Delta State also appealed for mercy as he is becoming weaker on age grounds. “I am a driver by profession but at 55, I can no longer drive. Besides, my only truck has been seized by the NDLEA two years ago. I need another chance to make amends,” he pleaded. The Agency however noted that the suspect will forfeit his truck that was impounded with cannabis in 2009. It equally ruled out mercy for the suspect because of the devastating effects of drugs to our teeming youths.

Chief Executive of the Agency, Ahmadu Giade, in his reaction called for a stiffer punishment for drug barons. “The large quantity of drugs recovered from him confirms our surveillance report that he is a major cannabis distributor within the State. He will soon be charged to court and we are hopeful of a well deserved punishment as his alleged illicit deals place youths at high risk,” Giade stated.