The Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has destroyed 10 cannabis farms covering 3.699303 hectares in the state.

The State NDLEA Commander, Mitchel Ofoyeju, disclosed this in Benin City during an interview with journalists, saying the farms had an estimated yield of 9,248.2575 kilogrammes of cannabis.

Giving a breakdown of the farms, Ofoyeju said Farms 1 and 2, located at Monday Camp in Ovia South-West Local Government Area of the state, covered 0.817148 and 0.111596 hectares, with estimated yields of 2,042.87 kilogrammes and 278.99 kilogrammes, respectively.

He said: “Farms 3 and 4 in Igwe-Oke Community Forest, Owan East Local Government Area, measured 0.623703 and 0.380575 hectares, with estimated yields of 1,559.2575 kilogrammes and 951.4375 kilogrammes, respectively.

“Farm 5, located in Okagboro Forest, Owan West Local Government Area, covered 0.336646 hectares, with an estimated yield of 841.615 kilogrammes.

“Additionally, Farms 6, 7 and 8 in Ukporwoya Forest, Owan West, covered 0.123755, 0.594138 and 0.167650 hectares, with estimated yields of 309.3875 kilogrammes, 1,485.345 kilogrammes and 419.125 kilogrammes, respectively.

“Farms 9 and 10, located at Eko Camp, Illushi, in Esan South-East Local Government Area, covered 0.068011 and 0.476081 hectares, with estimated yields of 170.0275 kilogrammes and 1,190.2025 kilogrammes, respectively.”

Ofoyeju said the command had counselled 28 drug-dependent persons and provided them with vocational training in skills such as tailoring, embroidery and liquid soap production to facilitate their successful reintegration into society.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating drug trafficking and abuse in the state, calling on stakeholders to collaborate with the agency to address the challenges.