The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a 20-year-old hair stylist, Josephine Odunu, and a 30-year-old dispatch rider, Edesemi Ikporo in Bayelsa State.
The anti-narcotic agency accused the duo of selling and distributing illicit drug-laced chin-chin to school students and at social gatherings within the state.
NDLEA’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, said officers of the Agency on patrol around Opolo Area of Yenagoa intercepted the motorcycle dispatch rider, Edesemi, and recovered 200 grams of chin-chin produced with cannabis sativa, which he was on a mission to deliver to a buyer on Sunday 10th March 2024.
A swift follow-up operation led to the arrest of Josephine, who was allegedly distributing the drugged snacks from the salon where she works in the Kpansia area of Yenagoa.
A subsequent search of Josephine’s salon premises resulted in the seizure of an additional 3 kilograms of the illicit substance, bringing the total weight confiscated from the duo to 3.2 kilograms.
Investigations indicates that they targeted school students and social events to incorporate cannabis into the snacks for distribution.
Edesemi handled the delivery aspect, while Josephine Odunu played a pivotal role in distribution, particularly to a wanted suspect involved in the production of the drug-laced chin-chin.
The agency urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to drug trafficking or abuse to the appropriate authorities, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts in curbing the menace of illicit drugs in the society.