Ola Ajayi, Ibadan

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has warned landlords who are accomplices to drug barons by allowing their property to be used as warehouse for storage of marijuana to desist from the act as the state government would henceforth confiscate such property.

This came as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and some security agencies on Monday, destroyed heaps of marijuana which weighed over 24.700kg in the outskirts of Ibadan.

Governor Ajimobi who was represented by his deputy, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo during the destruction of the drugs expressed worries about the way some unscrupulous men and women carry out drug trafficking saying it was unacceptable to his administration.

He warned villagers who accommodated foreigners and give them farmlands on which they cultivate marijuana to be watchful and screen all foreigners who indicated interest to get lands for cultivation.

Meanwhile, the NDLEA Oyo State command, had within eleven months arrested 213 suspects with a total seizure of 15.2 tons of cannabis sativa. It has also convicted 40 suspects, while 32 suspects are awaiting trial.

According to the command, 80 hectares of marijuana farmlands located in Tola and Ajeerun areas in Akinyele and Ido Local governments were destroyed.

Earlier in his address, the Chairman, NDLEA, Mr. Giade said, ” Cannabis warehouses have been detected and drugs seized” adding that “owners of property have a responsibility to monitor the use and ensure that tenants do not engage in illicit drug activities”.

He however, restated the agency’s determination to win the fight against drug trafficking. “We are adequately prepared for the worst situation, because, this is a must win battle. The large nature of cannabis seizures recorded in the state requires that efforts must be concentrated on drug control measures”, he stated.