The Ondo State Correctional Service intercepted Indian hemp hidden inside tomatoes at the Akure custodial centre and handed suspects to the NDLEA

The Ondo State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service has foiled an attempt to smuggle illicit drugs into the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Akure after officers discovered Indian hemp concealed inside fresh tomatoes during a routine gate search.

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The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Corrections Oyewole Akinwumi, said in a statement on Wednesday that about four grams of Indian hemp were “carefully wrapped in water-tight nylon with the intention of delivering it to an inmate in custody.”

According to the statement, the suspects were immediately apprehended and handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution.

“In line with the directive of the Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, on watertight security and custodial centre safeguarding, the suspects were immediately apprehended and handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution,” Akinwumi said.

The Controller of Corrections in Ondo State, CC Oyewole Charles (JP), commended the officers involved for their vigilance and professionalism.

“We remain unwavering in our commitment to maintaining secure and humane custodial facilities, while ensuring that all forms of trafficking in illicit substances are decisively stamped out of the correctional system nationwide,” Charles said.

The Command warned members of the public, particularly visitors to custodial centres, that it would not tolerate any act capable of compromising the security of its facilities.

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A similar incident was earlier reported in Kano, where the Nigerian Correctional Service arrested two suspects who attempted to smuggle Indian hemp and other illicit substances into the Nomansland court complex.