The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested three suspects and destroyed 125,750kg of cannabis sativa during operations in Igbara Odo and Ilawe Ekiti forests in Ekiti State. NDLEA State Commander Rufus Aina reported that 3,456kg of illegal substances were recovered between October 17 and 20, 2025, as part of “Operation Weed Crusher 2025” to disrupt the cannabis supply chain.
In Igbara Odo, 72,500kg of cannabis on 29.7 hectares was destroyed, while 53,250kg was eradicated in Ilawe Ekiti, alongside nursery beds awaiting transplanting. Additionally, 84 bags of harvested cannabis (2,316kg) were seized. The Ilawe operation, led by Deputy State Commander Muhammed Yaro, involved 40 hired laborers assisting NDLEA operatives.
Aina emphasized the agency’s commitment to curbing commercial cannabis cultivation, which threatens food security by occupying arable land. A similar operation in Edo State on September 11, 2025, destroyed over 18,000kg of cannabis, highlighting the broader challenge of illegal cultivation impacting agricultural resources.
