The Anti-Encroachment Task Force of the Ondo State Ministry of Natural Resources on Thursday in Akure arrested eight suspected Indian hemp cultivators in possession of twenty bags of the substance.
The suspects, according to the State Commissioner for Natural Resources, Mr Rasheed Badmus, would be handed over to the National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for prosecution.
According to Badmus, battling with constant encroachment on government forest reserves has become a big problem for successive administrations in the state.
“Many people always encroach upon forest reserves to plant food crops and Indian hemp.
“Efforts of officials of the State Ministry of Natural Resources to stop the menace are yielding positive results.
“Eight persons were arrested at Ofosu forest reserves in Idanre Local Government Area of the State, with twenty bags of cannabis, also known as Indian Hemp,’’ he said.
Badmus said the suspects were apprehended by anti-encroachment task force of the ministry.
The suspects, according to the commissioner, would be handed over to the officials of NDLEA for further action.
He said that encroachment on forest reserves is an issue the state government must not tolerate, as it strives to devise other sources of revenue generation to fund its programmes. (NAN)