The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA,) Edo Command alleged it had discovered a suspected cannabis village in Ukpuje forest in Owan West Local Government Area of the state.
The State Commandant of the Agency, Mr Buba Wakawa disclosed this at a news conference on Saturday in Benin City.
, The suspected illicit drug village, according to him had four large cannabis warehouses with a total of 233,778 kilogrannes of dried weeds suspected to be cannabis .
Wakawa said the substance had an estimated street value of more than N1 4 billion.
The breakdown of the substance include 318 bags of 80 kilogrannes each weighing 25,440 kilogrannes, 15,853 bags of 13 kilogrannes, weighing 206,089kg.
He said while the total quantity seized was 2,249 kilogrannes, others weighing 231,529 kilogrannes were destroyed at the farm.
Wakawa disclosed that seven drug barons believed to be running the cannabis trafficking syndicate including the chairman of the vigilante in the community had equally been apprehended and would be charged to court, adding that the success of the operation was due to the enabling environment created by the new Chief Executive of the Agency, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (Rtd).
The state command ,he said took delivery of two new Hilux vehicles presented to it last week by the NDLEA chief to enhance their operations, noting that the discovery of the cannabis village following a tip-off was carried out by a combined team of NDLEA and soldiers numbering 80, in the encounter that lasted from Thursday night through Friday night.
