The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Cross River State Command, has listed five local government areas in Cross River State with the highest Cannabis cultivation in the state.
Akamkpa LGA tops the list, followed by Odukpani, Ikom, Boki and Yakurr LGAs, in this order.
Rachel Umebuali, a Commander of Narcotics and head of the Cross River State Command of the agency, who made this disclosure on HIT 95.9 FM, Calabar, also pointed out that Calabar South and Calabar Municipality, were the two LGAs with the highest cocaine use in the state.
Throwing more light on the agency’s efforts to curb Cannabis cultivation in the state, Umebuali disclosed that, in June 2025, the NDLEA destroyed a 30-hectare cannabis plantation in Odukpani Local Government Area, carting away and destroying ninty, 100kg bags of harvested and processed Cannabis, valued at millions of naira.
NDLEA also seized 129.6kg of methamphetamine, 82.7kg of psychotropic substances, 47.7kg of cocaine, 32.3kg of heroin, 69.7kg of opioids and barbiturates as well as five grams of ecstasy, between the same period, she said.
“208 individuals, comprising 181 males and 26 females, were arrested for drug related offences in the first six months of this year, while the process of prosecution in court is ongoing”, she added.
On the role of traditional rulers in the state who appear to look the other way while Cannabis is cultivated, processed and sold, Umebuali warned that where their connivance or involvement is proven, the full weight of the law will be brought to bear on such traditional rulers. While commending the Cross River State Government for the massive support the agency has received, she further pleaded that drug rehabilitation centers should be built in the state, to help fight drug addiction.
