The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intensified its crackdown on illicit drugs in Ekiti State, destroying more than 51 hectares of cannabis sativa plantations and arresting 281 suspects linked to cultivation, trafficking, peddling and abuse.

Ekiti State Commander of the NDLEA, Rufus Aina, said the large-scale destruction of cannabis farms, estimated at over 127 tonnes in weight, was part of a sustained offensive targeting criminal networks operating across several local government areas.

Aina described cannabis cultivation in commercial quantities as one of the state’s gravest security and public health challenges, warning that the trade fuels criminality, school dropouts, substance dependence and the degradation of forest reserves and rural livelihoods.

He disclosed that within the past year, the command secured 50 convictions at the Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti, while many other cases are still pending. In total, NDLEA operatives recovered 6,337.517 kilograms of assorted illicit substances during raids and stop-and-search operations.

The commander noted that while traditional drug trafficking and abuse remain entrenched, new threats are emerging, including synthetic drugs, the misuse of prescription medicines and the use of digital platforms to coordinate supply chains and sales.

According to him, enforcement alone cannot solve the problem. He stressed the need for a broad, community-driven response that combines prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and sustained public awareness, with parents, teachers, religious leaders and civil society all playing critical roles.

Aina highlighted the command’s extensive advocacy work over the past year, including 76 rallies and enlightenment campaigns, 15 radio and television programmes and the counselling of 87 drug users. Preventive education, he said, remains the most cost-effective and sustainable strategy to curb substance abuse among young people.

He also cited notable prosecutions, including a 20-year jail term secured against a major dealer, Osho Akindele. In a sign of how deeply the trade has penetrated communities, Aina revealed the arrest of two elderly suspects: 78-year-old Ogunjobi Samuel from Ilupeju-Ekiti and 80-year-old Oke Samuel from Efon-Alaaye-Ekiti, both accused of dealing in illicit substances.

Aina commended the Ekiti State Government, particularly Governor Biodun Oyebanji and his wife, Olayemi, for their support of anti-drug campaigns, and thanked security agencies, non-governmental organisations, youth groups and community-based initiatives for backing the NDLEA’s efforts.

He urged residents to see the fight against drugs as a collective responsibility, calling for renewed commitment to safeguarding the state’s future from the grip of narcotics and organised crime.