By Tola Gbadamosi
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The Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 35-year-old man, Ayodele Osuya, with 228 Kilogrammes of Indian Hemp otherwise known as Cannabis Sativa.
State Commandant of the NDLEA, Mr Kayode Raji, while briefing The Hope Metro at the command’s headquarters in Akure said his men had been on Osuya’s trail for a long time.
Raji said that the suspect was arrested with 309 pieces of the Indian hemp weighing 228kg. had sealed in the booth of a Toyota Camry car.
The commandant, who said the arrest was made on Wednesday March 29, said it was not easy trailing the suspect.
“We have been on his trail for a very long time and at a time, we also suspected that he was very suspicious and almost about to get wind he was being trailed, so we relaxed the manhunt.
“We employed characters so that our identity will be concealed. But at the end of the day, on March 29, he was nabbed at a place called Quarter guard in Akure, Ondo State.
“And a compressed cannabis, carefully stacked in the booth of the car, about 309 pieces of compressed cannabis, of about 228kg ,” he said.
Raji, who admitted that dealing and cultivating cannabis pays nobody, said,’ it is evil and we should all steer clear of it.’
He said that the command was ready to combat what he called ” merchant of death” frontally in the state.
The commandant further said that, “it is either you get out of the state or you get out of the business.”
The suspect, Ayodele Osuya, while speaking with newsmen confessed he was into the business to fend for his family.
Osuya said he was kidnapped sometime ago and had to sell all he had to secure his freedom from the kidnappers’ den.
“I’m only trying to help my family because of the issue I have had earlier. I nobody to help me. So, that is why I have to get myself involved in this business, to cater for my family.
” I just started this year, because last year, Fulani herdsmen kidnapped me. I sold all I had; my building, my vehicle. Then, I have nobody that could help me. So, I had to sell what I have to free myself,” he said.
He, however said he was not the owner of the vehicle, claiming that he only borrowed it to go to a burial ceremony, before he could use it for trip to get money to feed his children.
