As part of intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking and prevent the spread of narcotics in communities, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested three individuals caught cultivating Indian hemp in Ekiti State.
The trio, suspected to be involved in the transportation of the illegal substances to drug lords, were also said to be engaged in drying some of the harvested plants.
The suspects were arrested by operatives of the agency led by the Deputy State Commander, Muhammed Yaro, at Ilawe Ekiti forest, where nursery beds of Cannabis sativa were discovered.
According to State Commander Rufus Aina, during the operation, 53,250 kg of the substance were destroyed, along with nursery beds of Cannabis sativa awaiting transplantation.
He added that follow-up operations led to the busting of Igbara Odo forest, where 72,500 kg of fresh Cannabis sativa planted on 29.7 hectares of farmland was destroyed.
In addition to the arrests and destruction, the commander disclosed on Thursday that 3,456 kg of the illegal substance was recovered during the exercise, which took place between Friday, October 17, and Monday, October 20, 2025.
The NDLEA commander further reiterated his commitment to clamping down on the activities of growers in the state, which necessitated the launch of ‘Operation Weed Crusher 2025.’
According to him, “The operation has been yielding positive results. It is a bold statement to drastically cut the supply chain of Cannabis sativa in the state and, by extension, in the country.
“In a bid to sustain the onslaught against miscreants who have turned Ekiti forests into hotbeds for the commercial cultivation of Cannabis sativa, the Ekiti State Command of the NDLEA stormed forests in Igbara Odo and Ilawe Ekiti.
“This massive operational success at Igbara Odo forest was a follow-up to the farm destruction operation in Ilawe Ekiti. A total of 84 bags (72 regular bags and 12 jumbo-size bags) of already harvested and dried Cannabis sativa, weighing 2,316 kg, were also recovered.
“Three suspects were arrested during the operation, which started on Friday, the 17th, and lasted until Monday, the 20th, with the support of hired labourers.
