By Peter Omopo
Troops of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, have intercepted a major drug courier transporting a large consignment of Cannabis Sativa from Ekiti State to Obajana in Kogi State.
The operation, carried out on Monday, was disclosed in a statement posted on the Brigade’s official X handle. According to the Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, soldiers deployed at the Agbede Response Area became suspicious during a routine stop-and-search on a Toyota Camry with registration number DKA 158AU.
The vehicle, driven by Mr. Johnson Ayo, reportedly drew the soldiers’ attention after they spotted a branded police belt and cap displayed on the dashboard.
A thorough search of the car led to the discovery of 10 sacks of Cannabis Sativa, weighing 108.8 kilograms, concealed within the vehicle. Preliminary findings, the Army said, indicate that drug movements of this scale are often linked to criminal networks that fuel banditry and related crimes across Kogi and neighbouring states.
The suspect, alongside the seized exhibits, has been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kogi State Command, for further investigation and prosecution.
The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to supporting national efforts aimed at tackling drug trafficking, dismantling criminal networks, and ensuring the safety of citizens.
Kogi State remains a major transit hub for illicit drugs and contraband due to its central location and extensive road links between northern and southern Nigeria. Security agencies say criminal groups often exploit these routes to move narcotics, weapons, and other illegal goods, which in turn finance activities such as kidnapping, banditry, and armed robbery.
