By Tola Gbadamosi
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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in  Ondo State, on  Friday destroyed 10,210 bags of  Indian hemp,  otherwise known  as ‘Sativa Cannabis.’

 It was learnt that the substance weighing 132,730kg were  discovered  by operatives of the command and thereafter destroyed in a makeshift warehouse situated in Ute forest, Ose Local Government Area of the state.

The state Commander  of NDLEA, Haruna Gagara,  told The Hope Metro, that the command carried out  the phase II of ‘Operation Thunder Strike’ on  December 20, this year,  as a follow up  to the phase 1.

He said it was aimed at mopping up the produce of Cannabis farms, which hitherto could not be destroyed during the phase 1 of ”Operation Thunder Strike,’ as a result of  bad roads to the location.

According to him, ” only 30 bags weighing 390Kg were evacuated to the state head office  due to lack of logistics, while the remaining exhibits were completely destroyed by burning at the location.

Gagara narrated how  the suspects at the makeshift warehouse in Ute disappeared into thin air and abandoned their cannabis sativa on the arrival of the men of the command.

His words,” We are hopeful to get the support of the society. And I urgently tasked  the society to join in the fight against consumption of hard  drugs  in the state.

” I equally urge members of  the society to keep helping us by providing  information on  how to eradicate these illicit drugs out of circulation.

“We need to work together. We need  to work in partnership with ourselves. If we must get rid  of these unscrupulous  elements in the state.

 ” For those who are perpetrators of cultivating sativa cannabis, they should  know that cannabis will not  help them in any form.

“Although, we did not bring most of the exhibits back to the office. We only brought a few and destroyed the others.

“We will  surely  get to these barons  wherever they are hiding and bring  their merchandises.

“The suspects took to their heels, as soon  as we got there. But investigation to track them down  is still ongoing,”he said.