The court order granted by Justice Chukwura Nnamani of the Federal High Court in Benin City, Edo State to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to publicly burn 82,253 kilogrammes of cannabis commonly known as Indian hemp, was on Saturday March 7, enforced by the agency.

The burning was conducted before the members of the public by the Honourable Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, under the chairmanship of the Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshomole.

The over 82 tons of cannabis were seized by the Edo State command of the agency in 2008. In the 2008 report of the agency, Edo State made the highest seizure of illicit drugs in the country with a total of 90,038.01 kilogrammes.

The statistics of arrests and seizures made by the agency in Edo State in the last three years have been very impressive. “The agency will not relent in its efforts to arrest drug barons, destroy cannabis plantations, seize narcotic drugs and impound vehicles used in conveying the deadly drugs,” Giade warned.

Between 2003 and 2005, the Edo State Command seized a total of 30,000 kilogrammes of cannabis and arrested 328 drug suspects. However, in 2006 alone, it seized 33,000 kilogrammes of cannabis and arrested 153 drug suspects.

In 2007, the command successfully tripled the 2006 record when it intercepted 96,000 kilogrammes of cannabis and effected the arrest of 325 persons involved in the unlawful act.

March 9th, 2009

http://www.leadershipnigeria.com/news/117/ARTICLE/7883/2009-03-09.html