Cannabis weighing a total of 1,514,278kg with an estimated street value of 15.1 billion naira was also intercepted.
During the operation, Cannabis plantations were raided and destroyed at
Ise Forest Reserve in Ise/Orun Local Government Area, Ode camp in Gboyin
Local government Area both in Ekiti State and Utese Forest Reserve in
Edo State. One hundred officers drawn from various State Commands
participated in the operation that lasted fortwelve days.
Uche Destiny Obi is the Vice Chairman and operational head of the
AKUNNUBAS, a group that specializes in cannabis cultivation and
distribution. He is called the King Maker because of his overriding
influence in determining appointment of otherExecutive members as well
as execution of punishment on erring members and foes. The criminal
group is believed to have a growing influence and operational stronghold
in South West and South South States of the country.
NDLEA investigation reveals that the Akunnubas is responsible forover
eighty percent (80%) of cannabis production in the country. The
syndicate hires cheap labour including school age children to work at
cannabis farms. They use motorcycles in conveying processed cannabis
from the farms to a temporary covert warehouse from where trucks are
later used in taking the drug forinter-State distribution.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade described the arrest
of Uche Destiny Obi as a reward for painstaking investigation. “The
suspected drug kingpin Uche Destiny Obi was placed under investigation
by the Agency forseveral months. This is an era of protracted and
diligent investigation that will expose illicit drug activities of
suspected drug barons who will soon be caught in the dragnet of the
NDLEA. I am delighted with the success of the painstaking surveillance
carried out by officers in Operation Weed Eater” Giade stated.
The NDLEA boss stressed that the Agency is poised to dismantle drug
traffickingsyndicates and put an end to their criminal activities.
Culled from Leadership Newspaper
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