Man, 41, arrested with 200kg of suspected weeds

The Edo State command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 41-year-old man with 200 kilograms of dried weeds suspected to be cannabis. The State Commander, Wakawa Buba, said the suspect, Ojuneme Festus, who was driving a Volkswagen bus, was intercepted with the weeds at Ehor, in the state.  He said […]

The Edo State command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 41-year-old man with 200 kilograms of dried weeds suspected to be cannabis.

The State Commander, Wakawa Buba, said the suspect, Ojuneme Festus, who was driving a Volkswagen bus, was intercepted with the weeds at Ehor, in the state. 

He said the weeds, packed in 20 bags weighing 200 kilograms, were concealed in a false compartment lined on the inside wall of the vehicle.

He said preliminary investigation revealed that the illicit substance was being conveyed from Iruekpen in Edo State to Uko-Orji in Imo State, adding that the suspect is assisting in investigation.

He explained that Ojuneme who hails from Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State lives in Oluku area of Benin.

“The suspect will be prosecuted for unlawful transportation of cannabis under the NDLEA Act while the bus will be forfeited to the Federal Government,” he said.

Speaking on his arrest, Ojuneme said he ventured into the business due to lack of stable job. 

“I have been driving for the past 15 years but in the past two years, I have been out of a stable employment. It was in the process of looking for food for my family that l accepted to smuggle cannabis. Shortly after l took off, my bus was stopped at Ehor by NDLEA officers on patrol. The drug was well hidden but l was surprised when the officers discovered the drug in a false compartment,” he said.