THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Edo State Command, yesterday, destroyed 102.71 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa (marijùana), estimated at over N1 billion. According to the Executive Director of the NDLEA, Ahmed Giade, the exercise which took place at Idogbo near Benin City, constitutes the largest single destruction of narcotics in the history of drug control in the country, attributing the success to the hard work by officers and men of the command and support from members of the public. Represented by the Director General, Femi Ajayi, Giade said the agency successfully traced and seized cannabis concealed in vehicles, secret warehouses and other disingenuous places and apprehended 231 suspected drug traffickers in Edo, in the year ended December 2012. According to him, “we are about to witness the largest single destruction of narcotics in our country’s history of drug control. We have a total of 102 tons of cannabis for destruction, which is a result of daily raid operations carried out by the Edo State Command. Given the usual sadness when we destroy their wares, today will be remembered as one of the gloomiest days for these enemies of the society.” explaining the efforts being made by the agency to curtail illicit drug trafficking in the country, Giade said it has strategic alliance both locally and internationally. “The agency is into strategic partnership with both local and international partners. As a result, when we get information on Nigerians involved in drug trafficking abroad, we investigate their illicit drug proceeds back home with a view to forfeiting same to the federal government. “We have substantially incapacitated drug trafficking syndicates in our country. The value of drugs seized from them in recent times is mind-boggling” he said. The Edo state Commander of the NDLEA, Alhaji San Sani, commended the cooperation of and assistance of the Nigeria Police, SSS and the Army in fighting the drug war in the state, disclosing that 480 acres of cannabis farmland was destroyed by officers and men of the command, during the 2012 planting season.