NDLEA Destroys 30 Hectares of Cannabis in Cross River

NDLEA officers stormed a hidden cannabis plantation in Cross River’s dense Odukpani forests, uprooting 30 hectares of illicit crops.

Authorities arrested multiple suspects during the dramatic raid while seizing 163.9kg of cannabis seeds buried among the thriving plants.

Commander Rachel Umebuali revealed troubling details about local complicity during Saturday’s press briefing in Calabar.

She confirmed villagers actively shielded drug traffickers, accepting bribes to conceal criminal activities from law enforcement.

The discovery exposes deep-rooted challenges in combating organized drug networks.

Shocking seizure records emerged from January through June 2023 operations across Cross River.

Agents confiscated 6,716.8kg of narcotics including cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine alongside the cannabis haul.

Most alarming was the arrest of 191 suspects with only 15 convictions secured despite overwhelming evidence.

“These drug lords aren’t locals but outsiders corrupting our communities,” Umebuali disclosed.

She praised First Lady Eyoanwan Otu’s anti-drug initiatives while lamenting chronic underfunding crippling operations.

Recent advocacy reached 191 institutions through intensive awareness campaigns targeting vulnerable groups.

The agency marked World Drug Day with prevention-themed events, emphasizing early intervention strategies.

Yet officers face daily hurdles – from inadequate vehicles to insufficient surveillance equipment – while dismantling sophisticated trafficking rings.

Residents now face urgent calls to break their silence. NDLEA’s plea for community cooperation comes as traffickers increasingly exploit remote forests for large-scale cultivation.

Each destroyed plantation represents progress, but officials stress the war demands sustained resources and public vigilance.

Behind the staggering statistics lie shattered lives and endangered youth.

The recent raid’s 30-hectare destruction barely dents the region’s drug crisis, with new plantations reportedly emerging monthly.

Umebuali’s team battles not just crops but deeply entrenched criminal networks with limitless resources.

Witness accounts describe traffickers employing armed guards and advanced surveillance to protect their illegal harvests.

Some farmers claim coercion, revealing how cartels forcibly recruit poverty-stricken villagers into cultivation.

These revelations underscore the operation’s complex socioeconomic dimensions.

The recovered 163.9kg of seeds alone could have yielded 8,000kg of cannabis, enough to supply 400,000 individual doses.

This math terrifies health officials as addiction rates climb among Cross River’s youth.

Rehabilitation centers report overflowing admissions, mostly teenagers hooked on cheap, readily available substances.

During interrogations, suspects revealed disturbing trafficking routes through neighboring Cameroon.

Corrupt border officials allegedly permit drug-laden trucks to pass unchecked, while speedboats transport shipments through mangrove creeks.

Such porous security enables the crisis to escalate unchecked.

While the NDLEA celebrates this victory, field agents whisper about larger, undiscovered plantations.

Their limited drones and helicopters can’t adequately scan Cross River’s vast wilderness, allowing criminals to stay steps ahead.

Each destroyed farm represents months of intelligence gathering and risky undercover work.

Community leaders finally break their silence, sharing horror stories of addiction’s toll.

A village chief recounts burying seven youths in six months – all overdose victims.

Parents now organize vigilante patrols, but face violent retaliation from enraged traffickers.

The human cost makes this more than a law enforcement issue; it’s a fight for survival.

As monsoons arrive, agents race against time. Heavy rains will erase tire tracks and footprints, while rapid plant growth obscures hidden farms.

The NDLEA’s plea for helicopters takes on new urgency – without aerial support, their ground efforts become nearly impossible.

This operation’s success offers hope, but the real test lies ahead.

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