Pubdate: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 Source: Daily Trust (Nigeria) Copyright: 2014 Daily Trust. Contact: http://www.dailytrust.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2923 Author: Ojoma Akor Page: 9 'CANNABIS PRODUCTION SPREADING TO NORTH' National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said drug trafficking is becoming more sophisticated on daily basis with the cultivation of Indian hemp gradually spreading to the northern part of the country. Head, Public Affairs of the agency Ofoyeju Mitchell stated this while speaking at a media roundtable in Abuja organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Ofoyeju said cannabis which is cultivated more in the South is gradually spreading to other parts of the country just as the agency has discovered the abuse of unconventional drugs particularly in the northern part of the country. He also said the growing concern over how organised crime undermine stability and prosperity in Africa and the way it is facilitated by a wide range of people places a demand on the reporter to be accurate, analytical and fearless noting there is need to carry out research on how drug cartels and organised criminal groups work. Coordinator of the "Response to drugs and related organised crimes in Nigeria" project, Harsheth Virk, said the European Union is supporting the Nigerian government with about 34.5 million Euros in fighting drug production, trafficking and use, and in curbing related organised crime in the country. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom