Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested Ba’ale Ige Babatunde, a community leader in Osun State, for alleged possession of cannabis.
Babatunde, aged 50, was found with 5kg of fresh cannabis plants on July 5, according to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi.
Additionally, on July 3, NDLEA agents apprehended Yusuf Abdulrahman, a youth corps member, at a corpers lodge in Kano State.
According to Punch, Abdulrahman was caught with 1.25kg of a potent cannabis strain known as "Loud."
In a separate operation, NDLEA agents raided the Lagos base of a high-profile cocaine syndicate, arresting Agbakoba John Mmadu, his wife Agbakoba Ijeoma Chinwe, and their associate Okoye Ifeoma Maryjane.
The operation resulted in the seizure of 10.1kg of cocaine valued at over N2.1 billion.
Further, NDLEA operatives intercepted a consignment of 350 grams of cocaine in Benue State on July 4, concealed in an MP3 speaker sent as a waybill parcel.
The follow-up operation led to the arrest of Odeh Anthony, the parcel's owner.
Meanwhile, a Chadian national, Yves Ahmat Gali, was arrested in Adamawa State on July 3. Gali was found with 5.2kg of Loud hidden in a loudspeaker.
Lastly, NDLEA agents raided Ikota forest in Ondo State, destroying 42,500kg of cannabis on 17 hectares of farmland and seizing 73.5kg for prosecution purposes.
Two suspects, Monday Ali and Jimoh Alewi, were arrested in connection with this operation.