NDLEA seizes 41 bags of Indian hemp concealed in bullion vans … Arrests one

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Ogun State have impounded two specially-built bullion vans and a Ford bus loaded with bags and parcels of Cannabis Sativa, popularly known as Indian hemp.
The two vans, Nissan and Mitsubishi brands, with registration numbers FKJ 731 XQ and LSR 837 XR, respectively, were impounded in Ijebu Igbo area of the state.
The suspected drug traffickers had abandoned the two hard drug laden bullion vans to escape arrest by the NDLEA operatives who were on their trail.
In one of the bullion vans (black Nissan), 20 bags of the illicit drug were found, while 21 bags of the substance were concealed in the other bus, a Mitsubishi brand.
The drugs found in the two bullion vans weighed 512kilograms.
The NDLEA operatives have however succeeded in arresting the owner of the Ford bus with registration number SMK 707 XF at Ilara, in Imeko Afon Local Government Area of the state.
The vehicle was laden with “skunk”, a brand of Indian Hemp considered more dangerous than the normal type.
The State Commander of NDLEA, Mr. Bala Fagge, expressed regrets that drug dealers and traffickers were becoming more daring, more innovative and now engage in trans-border trafficking.
Fagge disclosed that the suspect, Ismail Adeoyo, arrested in connection with the illicit drug found in the Ford bus, had confessed that he brought the consignment from the neighbouring Benin Republic.
Adeoyo, 38 who claimed to be an indigene of Ibadan, Oyo State however, said he had made three successful trips before he was caught.
The suspect concealed parcels of the illicit drug in false compartments built inside the bus to beat detection by NDLEA operatives.
The NDLEA boss said the suspect would soon be charged to court.
Fagge said it took a lot of intelligence to foil the plan of the drug dealers using the bullion vans to traffic the illicit substance.
He noted that it would be hard for anyone to suspect that such utility vehicles were being used to carry illicit drugs.
“One could have waved on such bullion vans if one had seen them on the road. No one would have thought that bags of Indian Hemp could be hidden inside the vans.
“The bullion vans were abandoned by the drug dealers at Ijebu Igbo and in the border area at Ilara, Imeko Afon. We had made about five arrests in one month.”
Also giving account of the command’s activities between January and October this year, Fage disclosed that the agency had arrested 173 suspects, including 161 males and 12 females.
He added that 3,435.168 kilogrammes of Indian Hemp were seized while that of psychotropic substance was 41.933 kilogrammes.
“We also made seizure of Cocaine totaling 104 grammes. We had secured 32 convictions and have 16 cases pending in court.”
Fagge assured that in spite of the logistics challenge confronting the command, it would con¬tinue to collaborate with other security agencies in the state to check the activities of drug dealers and traffickers.
The Ogun NDLEA boss said, “This new mode of concealment of drugs will require that all hands must be on deck to stop the drug dealers and traffickers in their tracks.
“All the three tiers of government and all well meaning Nigerians must be involved. I want to warn drug dealers and traffickers to leave Ogun State.
“Investigations are on to arrest the owners of the abandoned bullion vans.”