From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), yesterday, said it has uncovered a warehouse of compressed cannabis sativa in Abuja Estate, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The NDLEA, in a statement made available to Daily Sun, said the seizure was achieved based on a tip off it received.
The NDLEA added that its officers stormed the cannabis warehouse in the early hours of Saturday, February 20, 2021 and recovered 23 bags of compressed blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 621 kilograms and 0.029kg of cocaine.
“After evacuating the exhibits, the officers proceeded to Slaughter area of Trans Amadi, in Port Harcourt metropolis where they also recovered 0.006kg of heroin and 0.048kg of methamphetamine. The seized cannabis sativa has been estimated to have a street value of over ₦17 million,” the NDLEA said.
The Commander, Rivers state Command of the NDLEA, Rachael Shelleng, said three male suspects were apprehended in connection to the seizures and taken into custody for further investigation.
Shelling further said both Abuja Estate and Slaughter areas of Port Harcourt have been identified as very notorious spots for illicit drug peddling.
She added that the NDLEA will stop at nothing to ensure that the black spots and indeed the entire Rivers State is sanitised of illicit drug menace.
On his part, the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), commended the commander, men and officers of the Rivers State Command of the NDLEA for the effort.
Marwa directed the officers and their colleagues across the country and special commands to intensify the heat and take the battle to the criminals’ hideouts.
“With the support of all stakeholders, this war is winnable. The arrest few days ago in Lagos of a suspect who has been on the run for over 10 years confirms that the maxim of the new NDLEA, that the criminals can only run, they can’t hide, is working, because we’ll smoke them out of their hiding places,”Marwa said.