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Tag: cannabis sativa

  • NDLEA burns 18,000kg of cannabis sativa in Edo

    NDLEA burns 18,000kg of cannabis sativa in Edo

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Edo Command has burnt over 18,000 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa at Ugbogui Forest, Ovia South West Local Government Area.

    The substances were discovered during a raid.

    Edo Commander of NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, who disclosed this at a briefing, said the cultivation of cannabis savita constituted serious threat to food security in the state.

    Ofoyeju said the destroyed cannabis savita was cultivated on 6.79 hectares.

    He said 112 bags of harvested and processed cannabis weighing 1,176 kilograms were recovered from the farm.

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    The Edo NDLEA Commander said four male suspects linked to the cannabis plantation were arrested while taking refuge at their tents located within the farm.

    The suspects were identified as Ebenizer Wang, Oshare John, Emmanuel Monday and David Sunday.

    According to him: “The cannabis farm destruction operation which was based on actionable intelligence is posing a serious threat to food security. If these forests can be utilised only for the cultivation of food and cash crops, the challenge of food shortage will be adequately addressed.”

    He said the suspects would soon be charged to court.

  • Prison foils inmate’s wife’s attempt to bring in Indian hemp

    OFFICIALS  of the Nigerian Prisons Services (NPS) have foiled an attempt by a woman to smuggle cannabis sativa, popularly called Indian hemp into Ikoyi Prisons.

    The woman whose husband is detained at the facility, was said to have attempted to capitalise on humanitarian service providers and inmates’ relations’ visit to bring in the illicit drug.

    It was learnt that during such visits, people are allowed to bring in things for the inmates.

    The incident occurred barely two months after the prison foiled a three-man gang’s attempt to peddle Indian hemp within the facility, with the aid of its Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV).

    The woman allegedly concealed the substance, which weighed about 930 grammes, in four big tomato tins.

    The Deputy Controller of Prisons (DCP), Ikoyi Prisons, Tolu Ogunsakin, it was learnt, has begun investigation  to determine the culpability of her husband in the matter.

    The woman was shocked when officials at the gate insisted on a thorough check of every item brought into the prison.

    “When the tomato tins inside her package were opened, we found Indian hemp, a phone and a sim card,” a  source said.

    Lagos State Controller of Prisons (CP) Tunde Ladipo told The Nation that the suspect would not escape justice.

    He expressed surprise that a woman, under the guise of humanitarian service, could attempt to smuggle Indian hemp into the prison.

    Ladipo said the prison was not taking the matter lightly, adding that those found culpable would not be spared.

    The CP said: “We will rid the prison of bad influence from outside, to reform the inmates.”

    The woman, he said,  had been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

     

  • Court convicts 87-year-old woman of drug trafficking

    Court convicts 87-year-old woman of drug trafficking

    Justice Hadiza Rabiu-Shagari of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on Thursday convicted an 87 year-old woman, Maria Seriki, of  dealing in 10.3 kg of Cannabis Sativa.

    The judge, however, ordered that the convict be remanded at the Lagos State Old People’s Home, pending the time a member of her family, willing to take proper care of her, applied to the court for her custody.

    The convict, a resident of Oto-Awori, in Ijanikin, Lagos, had on Nov. 7, pleaded guilty to a one count charge of trafficking 10.3kg of Cannabis,  also known as hemp.

    She was arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA ).

    After her plea, the prosecutor, Mr Aliyu Abubakar, had urged the court to adjourn the matter, for a review of the fact of the case.

    At the resumed hearing of the case, the prosecutor tendered some exhibits which included the convict’s statements, a drug test analysis and the bulk of the substance seized from her, which were admitted as exhibits by the court.

    After admitting the exhibits, the court pronounced the 87 years old woman, convicted as charged.

    However, the convict’s lawyer, Mr Prosper Ojakovo, in his plea for mercy of the convict , urged the court to be lenient in sentencing her.

    He told the court that she was a first time offender, who had nobody to take care of her.

    He pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, and consider her age in sentencing.

    In her judgment, Shagari stated that sending her to prison would not be of any benefit, especially considering her age.

    The judge, consequently ordered that the convict be remanded at the Lagos State Old People’s Home, Yaba.

    In another matter, Shagari sentenced a 56-year-old woman, Anya Nneoma, to 12 months imprisonment, for unlawfully dealing in 5.5 kg of hemp.

    Anya, a resident of Badagry, had also pleaded guilty on a charge of illegal dealing in hemp.

    The judge said the convict should be sent to the female section of the kirikiri Prisons, Lagos.

    NAN

  • Court jails two men for smoking cannabis sativa

    Court jails two men for smoking cannabis sativa

    A Mararaba Upper Area Court, Nasarawa State, on Thursday sentenced two men – Kabiru Ibrahim and Yusuf Danjuma, to two months imprisonment each for smoking cannabis sativa (a.k.a.Indian hemp).

    The judge, Ibrahim Shekarau, said he convicted the defendants as they admitted committing the offence.

    He, however, gave the convicts N2, 000 option of fine each, and warned them to desist from committing crime.

    The convicts, who had no definite addresses, were arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, constituting public nuisance and making the atmosphere noxious for human health.

    They admitted to the crime and pleaded for mercy.

    The prosecutor, Cpl. Hamen Donald, had told the court that the convicts committed the offence on June 16, at about 12.30 p.m.

    He said that a team of police surveillance team, led by Insp. Lawal Usman, attached to ‘A’ Division, Mararaba Police Station raided a ‘black spot’ at Orange Market.

    According to Donald, in the course of the surveillance, the two convicts were arrested while smoking Indian hemp.

    The prosecutor also said that the offences contravened Sections 97, 192 and 198 of the Penal Code.

  • NDLEA seizes 396 bags of cannabis sativa in Ilorin

    NDLEA seizes 396 bags of cannabis sativa in Ilorin

    The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Kwara State yesterday said it seized 396 bags of cannabis sativa in the state.

    The haul, which weighs 3.4kg, was discovered in a warehouse in Osere area of Ilorin, the state capital.  Commander Apeh Reuben said no arrest had been made. Addressing reporters in Ilorin, Reuben said: “As it is, we are still doing the best we can to see that the culprits do not go unpunished. We are still trailing them.

    “In the last two weeks, my men have been doing an undercover job which resulted in the seizure of the illicit substance. The warehouse was found in Ilorin, Kwara State capital.

    And on getting there they discovered that the warehouse was stock-piled with cannabis sativa. The drug was seized on January 9.

    “Cannabis sativa is a highly controlled drug, not only in Nigeria but the whole world. It is not out of place to say its effect is synonymous to other hard drugs like cocaine and others you can think of.

    “This is the first seizure of this magnitude since the inception of NDLEA in Kwara State.” Senior Special Assistance to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on Security and Intelligence, Abdulsalam Suleiman, described the seizure “as a major breakthrough”.

    “The command has been up and doing and productive in terms of controlling the use of illicit drugs. I urge them command to keep the tempo high.”

  • NDLEA impounds 133.4 kg of cannabis sativa

    NDLEA impounds 133.4 kg of cannabis sativa

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Anambra State has impounded 133.4kg of cannabis sativa at the Onitsha main market, State Commander Mr. Sule Momodusa said yesterday.

    Momodusa said the drugs were seized from Chidiebere Nmezie. He gave names of three other suspects as Izuchukwu Obi, Patrick Ohanazoeze and Chigozie Ogaze.

    The commander said 150.535kg of unit drugs, including cocaine, heroin and cannabis sativa, were also impounded last week.

    He lamented that the drugs were shipped from Delta State through the River Niger, even as he appealed to Governor Willie Obiano to provide the agency with speed boats to enable it patrol the waterways effectively as the agency’s four boats were grounded.

    The NDLEA boss also blasted the judiciary for not giving due punishment to drug offenders, noting that the extant laws had 15 years minimum jail term for offenders.

    He chided most judges for not complying with that, ‘rather they would give jail sentences as ridiculous as six months’.

    Momodusa said the agency secured two convictions from the Federal High Court in Awka, against drug offenders in the month under review.