I sold Indian hemp to fund my Masters degree – AAU graduate

A man identified as Iredia Austine has been arrested for dealing in the banned substance Indian Hemp and in his confessional statement, he revealed that he sold the hard drugs to fund his Masters degree programme.

Iredia was arrested with about 82 bags of hemp.The graduate of Geophysics from Ambrose Ali University Ekpoma, said he started selling cannabis in 2011 when he gained admission into the university because he had no one to help him financially.

“I studied Geophysics at Ambrose Ali University Ekpoma and completed my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in January 2018. I started selling cannabis in 2011 when I gained admission into the university because I have no one to help me financially.

“After my graduation, I stopped selling Indian Hemp but the temptation arose when I purchased form for my master’s degree programme at the University of Port Harcourt. This is the largest quantity of cannabis I have bought,” he said.

Parading the suspect, the state commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Buba Wakawa, said the suspect was arrested with 82 bags of cannabis sativa (Indian hemp) weighing 762 kilogrammes.

He said the bags containing the narcotic were discovered inside the ceiling of the suspect’s house located at Ohiomah Street, Iyeu Otuo,Edo State by the operatives of the NDLEA.

‘We got hold of information on a certain Cannabis dealer in Iyeu Otuo and our men set into action immediately. He was eventually arrested and upon further search on his premises, we discovered the Indian hemp perfectly concealed in his ceiling. Our men seized about 82 bags of the banned substance cannabis sativa from the suspect” he said

Wakawa said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect bought the drugs during harvest season and stored it in the ceiling for sale during peak season. He said investigations have been concluded and that the suspect would be charged to court.