By OLA  AJAYI
IBADAN—CHAIRMAN, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Mr. Ahmadu Giade and some security agencies yesterday supervised the destruction of heaps of marijuana which weighed 24,700kg in the outskirts of Ibadan.

This came as Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State 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.

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

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

The command, within eleven months arrested 213 suspects with a total seizure of 15.2 tons of cannabis sativa and 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.

While presenting his keynote address at the ceremony, 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 described the burning exercise as remarkable and that the destruction of large quantity of the drug was a clear warning that drug barons had lost the battle to make our fellow citizens drug traffickers and addicts.

“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 said.