Police seize Indian hemp, arrest three
The Osun State Police Command has said it intercepted a vehicle conveying a substance suspected to be Indian hemp to Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the command, Abiodun Ojelabi, in Osogbo on Friday, said the vehicle conveying the substance broke down along Ife Road in the Moro area of the state.
Ojelabi added that operatives attached to the command’s Violence Crime Response Unit, Team E, while on routine patrol along the Moro–Ife Road, came across the faulty Toyota Sienna Space Bus and decided to pay attention to it.
The PPRO said the operatives, who suspected that something was wrong, conducted a search and later saw one Awo Omotayo (38), who identified himself as the driver of the faulty vehicle.
“He arrived at the scene in a red Nissan Cabstar vehicle with registration number EPE 299 YJ, driven by Abayomi Suleiman (22) and accompanied by Oluwatayo Samuel, to tow the Sienna vehicle.
The operatives subsequently searched the Sienna Space Bus and discovered some bags of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp inside the vehicle. The suspects were immediately arrested, while the exhibits and the three vehicles were recovered and taken to the command for discreet investigation,” Ojelabi said.
He further stated that, under interrogation, Omotayo explained that a man identified as Baba Ibo, operating around the Garage Olode area of the state, allegedly engaged him to convey the substance to Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
He also disclosed that Baba Ibo was in possession of the contact details of the intended recipient who was expected to receive the substance in Ogbomoso.
Ojelabi said the State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura, had directed a thorough investigation into the matter to unravel the source and intended recipient of the illicit substance.
He stated that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect, identified as Baba Ibo, and other persons who may be connected with the case, while the investigation continues.