The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) reported that during an investigation in Edo State, its agents discovered a temple being used to store illegal drugs. The shrine was guarded by a snake.
The NDLEA further stated that one of its agents found a large, purpose-made hole in a wall, concealed by wallpaper and fetish items meant to be used as drug storage.
The NDLEA’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, stated in a statement on Sunday that among other pot strains confiscated from the shrine were methamphetamine, Loud, Colorado, and Arizona, which are all pot strains with a total weight of 8.743 kg.
The statement read, “A snake-guarded shrine used to store illicit drugs in Igor community, Benin City, Edo State, has been raided by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, who detected a specially constructed large hole storage in a wall covered with wallpapers and fetish objects.
“Different quantities of illicit substances such as methamphetamine, Loud, Colorado, and Arizona, all strong strains of cannabis with a total weight of 8.743 kg, were pulled out of the deep hole dug in the wall of the shrine building.”
Babafemi mentioned that two ladies were arrested and the snake was “demobilised.”
Babafemi added that two other suspects were apprehended in a different operation within the state, together with 209 kg of cannabis.
Babafemi stated, “In the same vein, two suspects, Obi Ferguson, 45, and Ernest Abanum, 46, were arrested on Saturday, June 22, when NDLEA operatives raided the Usen forest in Ovia South West LGA, Edo State, where 209 kg of cannabis and a motorcycle were recovered.”
Babafemi said NDLEA officers intercepted a carefully packaged consignment of 8.2 kg of methamphetamine at a motor park in Mazamaza, Ojo, Lagos State.
“The highly addictive illicit substance, also called ice or crystal meth (mkpuru mmiri), was packed in imported Dunkin’ Turtle Love chocolate wraps and then concealed in the casing of three loudspeakers.
“A 39-year-old suspect, Michael Odiomume, who was sending the consignment to Owerri, Imo State, was promptly arrested on Wednesday, June 19, at the park,” the statement added.