Google – AFP, 7 December 2013
 |
Nigeria's
anti-narcotics agency says more than 1,400 hectares of land was
used last year
for cannabis plantation (AFP/File, Desiree Martin)
|
Lagos —
Most Nigerian farmers now abandon growing food and economic crops for cannabis
in a bid to become instant millionaires, the country's anti-narcotics agency
said on Saturday.
In a
statement, Ahmadu Giade, the chairman of the Nigeria's National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), said: "It is sad and disturbing that most
farmers are now abandoning food and economic crops for cannabis."
Last year,
the NDLEA arrested 8,052 suspected drug traffickers, including 542 women, it
said.
The NDLEA
boss said that more than 1,400 hectares of land was used last year for cannabis
plantation.
"This
1,404.27 hectares of land could have changed the fortunes of our agricultural
sector if properly utilised," he stated.
The agency
seized drugs worth 33 billion naira ($208 million/ 152 million euros) last year
and prosecuted 1,720 suspects, it stated. It did not say how many suspects the
agency convicted.
Among the
drugs seized were cannabis, heroin, cocaine, ephedrine, methamphetamine and
amphetamine, the NDLEA said.
"We
shall continue to dislodge more drug trafficking syndicates because anytime we
intercept drug from criminals, we are indirectly saving lives," Giade
said.
Some of the
seized drugs -- hidden in ear rings, buttons, necklaces, bangles and female
belts -- came into Lagos from Brazil and Pakistan, he alleged.
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