The Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a truck of dried weeds suspected to be cannabis sativa.
Two persons, including a driver, were also said to have been arrested allegedly in connection with the seized drugs valued at N70.7 million.
It was learnt that the illicit substance was packed in 409 bags and concealed behind building materials in a truck with registration number, XB 625 WEN, before it was intercepted by operatives of the agency in the Benin metropolis.
The State Commander, Wakawa Buba, confirmed the arrest in a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Ofoyeju Mitchell, on Friday.
Buba noted that an investigation had shown that the truck departed Akure, Ondo State, en route Abi in Delta State.
“This is yet another clever trick employed by drug traffickers; the cannabis was neatly concealed amidst building materials. But we were able to detect it based on intelligence report,” he added.
The driver of the truck, identified as Monday Amusoga, claimed that he was contracted by a friend to convey the substance for N50,000.
The 39-year-old from Ndokwa-West Local Government Area of Delta State also said that he had hoped to use the money to provide for his wife and five children.
He said, “I am a driver but I have been jobless. My friend assisted me with this deal so l can meet my family’s needs. I am married with five children.
“Unfortunately, when we got to Benin, the officers in a Hilux vehicle asked me to stop and took me to their office in Benin, where they conducted a search and the cannabis was detected amidst the iron rods.”
The second suspect, one Omebu Kingsley, said, “I was contacted to assist the driver for the sum of N25,000. I am married with a child. And as a jobless secondary school drop-out, l accepted the offer, especially as Christmas is approaching.”
But the state commander disclosed that the suspects were still under investigation and would be charged to court.
Wakawa, however, vowed that the agency would continue to clamp down on drug peddlers and ensure that they were prosecuted according to the law.
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