A few hours after the launch of Operation Gbalumo to rid Kwara of drug abuse, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Kwara State Command intercepted 11kg of illegal substances on the Ilorin-Lagos Road.

The drugs identified as cannabis sativa, according to officials of the NDLEA, were packed in a carton inside a bus with number plate NG116-A28 coming from Lagos State through Kwara to Minna in Niger State on Friday.

The Deputy State Commander Operations of NDLEA, Daniel Ogohi, disclosed that the recent collaboration between the agency and the Kwara State Government was yielding results with the interception of the illicit drug within the state territory.

According to him, over 100 operatives of the NDLEA have been deployed to strategic entry and exit points within the state to check transactions in the illicit drug trade.

He said, “The latest interception of the 11kg of cannabis from a driver of a Hummer bus belonging to Niger State Transport Authority while on a journey from Lagos through Kwara State to Minna in Niger State is one of the gains of routine checks during the yuletide to check movement of illicit drugs through the state.

“The drugs were carefully packed in a compressed form and concealed in the bus.”

The Kwara State Commander of NDLEA, Ibrahim Mohammed, who confirmed the seizure said that the command is making an effort to make the state free of illicit drugs during the yuletide season and after the celebration.

“We are making efforts to rid the state of illicit drugs, especially among the youth and we are trying to let them know that they can enjoy the celebration without being involved in drug abuse,” he said.

The commander advised parents to keep an eye on their children, particularly during the yuletide to guide them against drug abuse.

“We want to advise parents to look after their children, know the type of people they move with and monitor the parties they attend.

“Our target is to rid the state of illicit drugs and we want to show our young people that they can enjoy the yuletide celebration without being involved in drugs”, he said.

Ibrahim also appealed to the people in various communities in the state to always give information to NDLEA officials to monitor the movement of drug vendors and addicts in the state adding that “we need people to give us information, we are not spirits, it is through the information they give that we can succeed in riding the state of drug abuse.

The Kwara State Government entered into collaboration with the NDLEA with the launch of Operation Gbalumo for three weeks to rid the state of drug abuse.