NDLEA Dismantles Six-Hectare Hemp Farm in Ogun
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Ogun Command has successfully dismantled a six-hectare hemp farm located in Alaka village, Ogun State. At a press conference in Abeokuta on Thursday, the state’s NDLEA Commandant, Mr. Tijani Rabe, shared details of the operation while presenting the agency’s 2024 achievements. He confirmed that four individuals have been arrested and are under investigation for their involvement in the illegal hemp cultivation. Rabe also highlighted other significant accomplishments in the agency’s fight against the drug trade. The Ogun command apprehended 675 drug offenders and seized a total of 9.7 tons of illicit drugs, along with 537.81 liters of liquid-based narcotics. Additionally, during the special operation “Operation Closed Gates,” launched as part of the agency’s Yuletide initiative, authorities seized 100 bags of hemp weighing 1.3 tons in November. The operation, which targeted drug traffickers and syndicates, proved highly successful, as it sealed off all entry roads into the state. In addition to enforcement, the NDLEA ramped up public awareness efforts, conducting 128 sensitization programs across schools, workplaces, and communities. Approximately 27,648 people were educated about the dangers of drug abuse. Rabe also reported 221 convictions and prison sentences for drug offenders in the year under review, with many more cases still in progress. This latest operation follows a similar discovery in 2022, where the state police uncovered another large hemp farm and arrested seven suspects.
