Date: 2018-11-10

The Kwara State Assistant Commander, Operations and Intelligence, Mr. Dandi Emmanuel, on Friday said that the state command had seized a lorry load of compressed Cannabis Sativa worth over N250m."

He stated that the illicit drug was concealed in bags of fairly used clothes loaded in a truck with the registration number: BDG 998 XU."

According to the police boss, the drug originated from Ghana and was meant to be transported to Togo and Benin Republic through Kwara State before it was intercepted in Nigeria."

He added that when the cannabis got to Ilorin, Kwara State, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency officials, acting on an intelligence report, intercepted the vehicle and apprehended two out of the three occupants of the vehicle."

Emmanuel made this statement while parading the two arrested suspects identified as Ayomide Azeez and Ismail Kabir. The impounded lorry and its contents were also put on display during the parade."

"We arrested two suspects conveying cannabis valued at N250m in the open market, I might be wrong as it could cost more, but certainly, it would not be less than that figure. This seizure was made by my officers at Okolowo area of Ilorin, Kwara State at about 11.30pm."

"The compressed cannabis was being imported from Ghana and was going to Togo and the Benin Republic via Ilorin and the rough estimate of the cannabis is about three tons. However, this cannabis is compressed and it is not the ordinary cannabis. Now, they use the border to come into Ilorin."

"We believe that it is very important that this quantity of cannabis is taken off the market and that is why we hurriedly made the arrest as we continue to do our job diligently. We are appealing to the members of the public and government to assist us with logistics because we are in dire need of assistance," he said."

The Chairperson, Kwara State Drug Control Committee, Mrs. Barakat Olarewaju, said the seizure was a good development."

She said, "I want to appeal to parents, our young ones and the society in general that taking illicit drugs is not good."

"When we look at the risks and benefits, we would realise that the risks and problems of drug abuse are greater compared to the gains our youths get from taking such drugs."