The Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade has warned cannabis distributors in the country to prepare for a showdown.

According to Giade, the socio-economic, political and cultural implications of cannabis cultivation, trafficking and abuse is devastating. He emphasized that latest research has reinforced the damaging impact of the drug on the brain and called on stakeholders to ensure that their children and wards shun drug abuse.

We are coming all out against narcotics in our society. Even cannabis that is locally cultivated is harmful. It affects the Central Nervous System causing damage to the brain. Besides dropping out of school, cannabis abuse is linked with criminality. Many great destinies had been lost through drug abuse habits NDLEA boss stated.

While promising to bring drug barons to book, he called on stakeholders to protect their children from indulging in drug trafficking and abuses.

The call was made following the disclosure that the Lagos State Command of the Agency successfully apprehended 159 major drug traffickers with a seizure of 4.7 metric tons of cannabis.

Most of the suspects are males numbering 141 while females are 18. The acting Commander in the State Mrs. Kenechi Nnoruka while stating that the command is working out modalities to eradicate narcotics from the city of Lagos said that the arrests and seizures were made between January and September 2010.

Apart from confiscating over 4,700 kilogrammes of illicit drugs in Lagos State, we have also won the conviction of 62 drug accused persons in the past nine months the commander stated.

She also announced the arrest of two major cannabis distributors in Lagos, Felix Ikogwe, 31, and Mohammed Isah Tasiu, 26, caught with 470kilogrammes of cannabis.

Cannabis weighing 246.3 kilogrammes was found in the house of Felix who hails from Delta State while 224 kilogrammes was recovered from Mohammed who is from Kaduna State.

Mohammed who claims to be the leader of Young Boys Club at Mile 12 market was arrested following a tip off that large quantity of cannabis was hidden in his shop at Mile 12 market.

He is married with a child and resides at Mile 12 area of Lagos. According to him, he took over the cannabis business after the death of one Sunday who used to be the main dealer at the market.

Felix told investigators that the sacks of cannabis recovered from his house were brought to him by one woman who is also from Delta State. I was not at home when she brought the Indian hemp to my house.

When she called, I told her where my key was, so when I returned I found the drugs. They were meant for supply immediately but we had vehicle problem. Unfortunately, NDLEA officers came after three days and arrested me and seized the Indian hemp he stated.

The two suspects will soon be charged to court.