Indian authorities have expressed discomfort with the term “Indian Hemp,” a name commonly used in Nigeria to refer to Cannabis Sativa, a banned substance. Rachel Umebuali, Cross River State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), revealed this during an interview in Calabar.
She stated that Indian officials find the term negative and do not want their country associated with it. As a result, the NDLEA encourages Nigerians to use the proper name, Cannabis Sativa, instead of street names like “Kanja,” “We-We,” “Igbo,” or “Marijuana.”
Umebuali identified several local government areas in Cross River State notorious for illegal drug consumption and cultivation, including Akamkpa, Ikom, Odukpani, Yakurr, and Calabar South.
She noted that Calabar South serves as a major hub for the distribution and consumption of hard drugs, while large-scale cannabis farms have been discovered in Akamkpa, Ikom, and Odukpani.
Over 100 hectares of these farms have been destroyed, with many cultivators reportedly from outside the state collaborating with local landowners and hiring labourers to operate the farms.
The NDLEA commander disclosed that cannabis cultivation has shifted from states like Edo and Ondo to Cross River and other remote areas. In the past six months, the agency arrested 208 drug peddlers and users, seizing 3.5 tons of illicit substances, primarily Indian hemp. Umebuali emphasised that no one, including traditional, religious, or political leaders, would be spared in the ongoing crackdown.
She called for public support to reach communities heavily affected by drug abuse and stressed the need for rehabilitation centres to help users recover and reintegrate into society. Despite challenges, the NDLEA remains committed to curbing drug-related activities in the state.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
