Customs seizes packs of Indian hemp in Ogun

The Ogun Area Command, Nigeria Customs Service, has seized 70 packs of textile materials containing Indian hemp.

The customs operatives of the command were said to have intercepted a motorcycle conveying the illicit drug at Olodo village, in the Yewa North Local Government Area of the state on Friday.

The Controller, Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun Area Command, Multafu Waindu, in Abeokuta on Monday, said a suspect, Abraham Ayinde, was arrested in connection with the seizure.

While handing over the hemp packs to the state Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Bala Fagge, Waindu said it was the second time this year that the state command of the NCS would intercept packs of hemp in the state.

He said the hemp seized in Olodo weighed 76.3kilogrammes with a market value of N2.1m

He said, “Our operatives intercepted 70 packs containing hemp, which weighed 76.3kg with a market value of N2.1m

“This type of illicit substance affects the youth in the country, it affects their brain, and some of them turn to crime.

“Since we have inter-agency synergy with the NDLEA, this is the second time this year that the state command of the NCS will be handing over such seizure to the agency.”

Speaking with journalists, the suspect, Ayinde, who claimed to be a commercial motorcyclist, popularly known as okada rider, said he was flagged down by the original owner of the hemp to convey him to the Sabo Roundabout area of Abeokuta.

The suspects explained that he picked the owner of the hemp at Oke Agbede Village in Imeko Afon LGA, adding that the owner fled after he was stopped by the customs operatives.

The NDLEA commander, Fagge, explained that his agency would investigate the matter further and charge the suspect to court.

The NDLEA commander, who attributed 60 to 70 per cent of crimes to drug influence, stated that his agency would continue to keep the country free of illicit drugs.