Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Seme Area Command have arrested three mothers in Badagry, Lagos State for allegedly using their compounds as hideouts for the sale and smoking of cannabis, thereby constituting a nuisance to members of the community.
The arrests were made in response to reports on the illicit drug sales by the suspected mothers.
According to the NDLEA Seme Commander, Udotong Essien, the suspects are Adesola Kolawole, 30, caught with 2.750kg of cannabis fermented in alcohol; Sade Oyewale, 44, caught with 300 grammes of cannabis; and Kadijat Mojeet, 36, found with 1.1kg of dried weed of cannabis.
Their criminal act is believed to be the cause of social vices in the society following complaints received by the command.
Essien said: “We received complaints that these three women were illegally selling and allowing the use of cannabis in their premises.
“Investigation confirmed the allegation of sales and smoking of cannabis.
“Subsequently they were apprehended and drug exhibits recovered from them.
“The command is also on the trail of other suspects who are believed to be working with the arrested mothers.”
Kolawole, who is married with two children, sells dried weed of cannabis mixed with alcohol, commonly called “monkey tail”.
She hails from Ekiti State and has been selling the illicit substance for over a year.
She said: “Most customers who are young people and adult men prefer to drink alcohol mixed with hemp to get high.
“We sell a shot for N50 only and it is my source of livelihood.
“I earn an average of N5,000 daily with which I sustain my family.”
Sade who was caught with 300 grammes of cannabis said that “we do not want our house to be used for smoking weed but when customers come to buy some of them want to smoke immediately and we can’t stop them. I started selling hemp about a year and half ago and I have four children”. She hails from Osun State.
Oyewale, a mother of four, was equally found with 1.1kg of cannabis.
In her words: “I use the proceeds of cannabis sales in taking care of myself and my four children.
“This is my first arrest since I started selling hemp in less than a year ago.”