6 Vehicles Carrying ₦25m Worth Of Cannabis “Igbo” Impounded By NDLEA In Edo State (Photo)

Edo NDLEA has Impounded 6 vehicles carrying N25m worth of Cannabis Sativa “Igbo”.

The impounded vehicles, which included 2 Toyota Sienna’s, are worth ₦10 million. This brings the total losses suffered by the drug peddlers to ₦35 million.

The Edo Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has impounded six vehicles containing about 1,687kg cannabis sativa.

The confiscated hard drugs, popularly known as “Igbo” in Nigeria, is said to be worth ₦25 million.

Addressing newsmen in Benin, the Commander of the agency in Edo, Mr Buba Wakawa; said the agencies sustained monitoring led to bursting of the syndicate trafficking the hard drugs.

Wakawa said :

“This is the first time that six vehicles will be impounded in a single swift action by the command.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the cartel targeted the emergency created by the Coronavirus pandemic for massive shipment of drugs but the command swiftly nipped their nefarious plan in the bud.”

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NDLEA boss put the value of the impounded vehicles, which included 2 Toyota Sienna’s, to about ₦10 million. This brings the total losses suffered by the drug peddlers to ₦35 million.

“The operation, which was carried out by the Auchi Area Command of the agency, based on intelligence gathering; took place at Agenebode in the Etsako East Local Government Area of the state.

“It is one of the most successful operations executed by the state command since January.

“All six vehicles had a full shipment of cannabis set for distribution to other states of the federation.”

Citing Section 32, sub-section (C) of the NDLEA Act, Wakawa said the seized vehicles will be forfeited :

“All instrumentality of conveyance, including aircraft, vehicles or vessels which are used to facilitate the transportation; sale, receipt, possession or concealment of substances shall be forfeited.

“The six vehicles seized from the interstate cannabis smuggling cartel, include a Toyota Sienna vehicle with registration number AA 826 MKR Katsina.

“It contained 40 bags of cannabis, weighing 440 kg, while another Toyota Sienna vehicle with registration number MAN 614 AA Kaduna, had 41 bags of the substance, among others,’’

Wakawa also disclosed that the drivers of the impounded vehicles escaped arrest.

“Meanwhile, intensive efforts by the command are underway to apprehend members of the cartel and bring them to book.”

The NDLEA boss also appealed to Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo to assist the command with utility vehicles to boost the agency’s operations in the state.

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