Operatives of the National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested 51-year-old Ayodele for alleged drug
trafficking and killing of their operatives.
According to the Agency’s Principal
Staff Officer, Public Affairs, Jonah
Achema, Ayodele, a title holder in Uzebba, Edo State is a notable cannabis
merchant, “suspected to be the mastermind of the killing of NDLEA personnel
earlier in the year. He was arrested during the operation. In an attempt to
resist arrest, his gang opened fire, injuring some of the operatives.”
Achema, who said that the Agency
recorded another major Cannabis haul in its ‘Operation Thunder Strike IV,’ said
that the operation was launched to rid forests in Ondo and Edo states of
Cannabis.
It was also in the ‘Operation Thunder
Strike IV’ that Ayodele and Mr Ojeagbese Asabiya, 66, were arrested.
According to Achema, the Agency,
yesterday, intercepted and burnt 181.2 tons of the illicit drug crop concealed
in warehouses in Ala Forest in Akure North of Ondo State.
Achema said: “Yesterday’s haul was made
from three different warehouses spread across the forest. A total of 12, 078
bags of the illicit drug crop were discovered in the three warehouses, out of
which 16 bags weighing 240 kilogrammes were brought to the office for
prosecution. In addition, 730 sacks of Cannabis seeds weighing 21.9 tons were
recovered and destroyed by burning. The Agency also recovered two single barrel
guns and expended cartridges.”
The image maker explained that in an
end-of-the year clean-up of drug malfeasance in the areas bordering Ondo and
Edo states, the Agency embarked on “Operation Thunder-strike IV,” a week-long
combing of the forests in the areas notorious for cannabis crop cultivation.
The intelligence-driven counter narcotic
campaign has led to the seizure of several tons of Cannabis already harvested
and heaped for onward movement to the illicit drug markets. Not fewer than 14.3
tons of the illicit drug crops were recovered from six camps raided by the
operatives.
He said: “Uzebba and Ukpoji-Ihkin, two
communities, in Owan West Local Government Area in Edo State, bordering Ondo
State, which are notorious for the cultivation of Cannabis, were the first to be
visited by our operatives.”
He said that a reinforcement of NDLEA
and Army personnel stormed Ivbiodeohen forest in Uzebba where five different
warehouses were raided with at least two tons of cannabis destroyed.
“Mr Ojeagbese Asabiya, 66, was arrested
in a disserted locality where several Cannabis nursery and transplant farms
were discovered and destroyed. Eight locally fabricated guns and several rounds
of ammunition were recovered from the spots. Also six locally fabricated
Cannabis compressing machines were also recovered from the Camp,” said Achema.
Achema disclosed that at Uteh, near Ifon
in Ondo State, the operation lasted 20 hours as operatives invaded and
ransacked the Ajobieye Forest, Owo Local Government Area. The operation led to
the destruction by burning of 1, 225 bags of Cannabis Sativa, weighing 12. 3
tons. A total of 174.5 kilogrammes and sample of fresh plants were brought to
the office for prosecution purposes.
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