I sold Indian hemp to fund my Masters degree – Suspect

A suspected Indian hemp dealer has said that he bought 82 bags of hemp recovered from him to sell and foot his Masters degree programme. Iredia Austine, a graduate of Geophysics from Ambrose Ali University Ekpoma, said he started selling cannabis in 2011 when he gained admission into the university because he had no one […]

A suspected Indian hemp dealer has said that he bought 82 bags of hemp recovered from him to sell and foot his Masters degree programme.

Iredia Austine, a graduate of Geophysics from Ambrose Ali University Ekpoma, said he started selling cannabis in 2011 when he gained admission into the university because he had no one to help him financially.

“I studied Geophysics at Ambrose Ali University Ekpoma and completed my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in January 2018. I started selling cannabis in 2011 when I gained admission into the university because I have no one to help me financially. 

“After my graduation, I stopped selling cannabis but the temptation arose when I purchased form for my master’s degree programme at the University of Port Harcourt. This is the largest quantity of cannabis I have bought,” he said.

Parading the suspect yesterday, the state commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Buba Wakawa, said the suspect was arrested with 82 bags of cannabis sativa (Indian hemp) weighing 762 kilogrammes.

He said the bags containing the narcotic were discovered inside the ceiling of the suspect’s house located at Ohiomah Street, Iyeu Otuo in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State by the operatives of the NDLEA.

Wakawa said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect bought the drugs during harvest season and stored it in the ceiling for sale during peak season. 

He said investigations have been concluded and that the suspect would be charged to court.