The Seme Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested three women for allegedly using their houses as storage facilities for marijuana.
NDLEA’s Seme commander, Mr. Udotong Essien who gave the names of the suspects as Adesola Kolawole, 30; Sade Oyewale, 44, and Kadijat Mojeed, 36, said they were arrested in Badagry for using their houses as hideouts for the sale and smoking of marijuana.
He said the arrest followed residents’ complaints about the women’s illicit activity and the nuisance their patrons constituted in the area.
“Adesola Kolawole was caught with 2.750 kilogrammes of cannabis fermented in alcohol, Sade Oyewale, was caught with 300 grammes of cannabis, while Kadijat Mojeed was found with 1.1 kilogrammes of dried cannabis.
“We received complaints that these three women were illegally selling and allowing the use of cannabis in their premises. Investigation confirmed the allegation of sale and smoking of cannabis.
“Subsequently they were apprehended and drug exhibits recovered from them. The command is also on the trail of other suspects, who are believed to be working with the arrested mothers,” said Essien.
During interrogation, the suspects admitted culpability.
Kolawole, a mother of two, said she sold dried marijuana mixed with alcohol commonly called monkey tail, adding that she had been on the trade for over a year.
“Most customers, young and old, prefer to drink alcohol mixed with hemp to get high. We sell a shut for N50 only and it is my source of livelihood. I earn an average of N5, 000 daily with which I sustain my family,” she said.
On her part, Oyewale, who was caught with 300 grammes of cannabis, said: “We do not want our house to be used for smoking weed. But when customers come to buy, some of them would want to smoke immediately and we cannot stop them. I started selling hemp about a year and half ago and I have four children.”
Also, Mojeed, a mother of four, said: “I use the proceeds of cannabis sales to take care of myself and my four children. This is my first arrest since I started selling hemp.”