The Ogun State Command of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, on Wednesday seized two purposely-built bullion vans and a Ford bus loaded with bags and parcels of Cannabis popularly known as Indian hemp.
The state commander of NDLEA, Bala Fagge told journalists in Abeokuta that the two vans, Nissan and Mitsubishi brands, with number plates FKJ 731 XQ and LSR 837 XR respectively, were impounded at Ijebu Igbo area of the state.
He said occupants of the vehicles abandoned them after realizing that NDLEA operatives were closing in on them.
He said parcels of the illicit drug were cleverly concealed inside false compartments built by the suspects inside the vans.
“One could have waved on such bullion vans if one had seen them on the road. No one would have thought that bags of Cannabis Sativa (Indian hemp) could be hidden inside the vans,” Mr. Fagge said.
He said the owner of the Ford bus, with number plate SMK 707 XF, was arrested at Ilara, a border town located in Imeko Afon Local Government area of the state.
Mr. Fagge said the suspect was arrested with a brand of Indian hemp called skunk, which is considered more dangerous than the known marijuana.
He said drug dealers and traffickers were becoming more daring, innovative and were moving across borders.
He said the suspect, Ismail Adeoyo, who was arrested in the Ford bus, confessed that he brought the consignment from the neighbouring Republic of Benin.
The NDLEA boss said the 38-year-old suspect, who claimed to be from Ibadan, said he had made three trips in recent times. He said Mr. Adeoyo would be charged to court accordingly.
He also gave breakdown of the command’s activities between January and October 2015, stating that it had arrested 173 suspects (made up of 161 males and 12 females); seized 3,435.168 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa (Indian Hemp), as well as 41.933 kilograms of psychotropic substance.
