The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), FCT Command, Abuja, intercepted cannabis with a market value of N48 million.
The seizure is coming few weeks after the agency intercepted cannabis worth $2.1 million in Lagos.
Abuja NDLEA arrested one John Okafor, (25), in connection with the Cannabis, which was detected during routine motorized surveillance along Abaji-Abuja Expressway.
The Command also arrested a cannabis dealer, identified as Chukuka Ugbai, with seventy-nine bags of dried weeds that tested positive for cannabis, weighing 817kg.
The FCT commander of the NDLEA, Mrs Obijuru Chinyere, said that the suspect claimed that the money belongs to a bureau de change.
“The suspect was on board a commercial bus from Onitsha in Anambra State when the cannabis wrapped in a brown carton and concealed in a sack was found on him. He also had on him eighty-six thousand, five hundred CFA Franc.
Quizzed by the operatives, he claimed that the money belongs to a Bureau-de-Change operator, whose business was based in Onitsha.
Ugbai was arrested at Bako village in Kwali Area Council following the discovery of his cannabis warehouse” Chinyere stated.
However, Okafor in his statement said that he was on official assignment for a bureau de change in Anambra State.
His words: “I work for a bureau de change at Onitsha. I was asked to purchase some dollars at the foreign exchange market in Abuja, with the money. When we got to Abaji, our vehicle was searched and the money was found. That is all I know about.”
On his part, Ugbai who was caught red handed at his residence and he had this to say: "I can say I was not lucky enough because I do not know how they detected my cannabis warehouse."
"I sell cannabis to take care of my family and pay my children school fees."
He confessed that the operatives found 79 bags of cannabis in his house, pleading that if he is out of the NDLEA's net; he will never go back to the business again.
Chairman of the anti-narcotic agency, Ahmadu Giade however has called on members of the public to adhere strictly to the provisions of the anti-money laundering act.
His words: “The agency is committed to the fight against illicit drugs and related offences, such as money laundering, insisting that it is important to comply with the provisions of the act and embrace the cashless policy.
Meanwhile, John Okafor has been transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for further investigation.