By Pita Chibs, Minna

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA  has apprehended 12 suspects with 1,381.5  kilogrammes of substance suspected to be Indian Hemp in Niger State.

The agency’s  Acting Commander in the state, Mr. Isaac Aloye, told our Correspondent in Minna, that out of 12 arrested, four were sent to correctional Service, two were reminded while the remaining six are still under investigation.

Aloye said that the suspects were arrested with over 25 sacks of dried weeds suspected to be cannabis sativa.

Other seizures made include, 0.014 kg of cocaine,  cough syrup with codeine 401 bottles,  pentazocine  injection 10,200 and methamphetamine 0.001kg.

Aloye  disclosed that the drugs were sent through waybill to the owners in different parts of the state and beyond before it was intercepted by the operatives on stop and search duty.

"They send all these drugs through transporters who will call the owners to come and pick it at the at their various parks. But luck ran against the owners when it was intercepted by the command."

He said, some of these drugs seized was during the lockdown period, they used the articulated vehicles allowed by the Covid19 Task Force to covey food items to other states to send it to the owners.

“Intelligence reports have it that the drugs were brought in state  during the lockdown through Kano, Kaduna and Zaria, adding that they were packaged like wedding gifts or gift items," he said.

Aloye appealed to members of the public to assist with the required information in arresting  those in the illegal trade.