BENIN CITY – The Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has seized cannabis and other narcotics valued at about N724 million and arrested five persons during intelligence-led operations in the state.
State Commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed the development while presenting the command’s recent operational scorecard in Benin City. “Our intelligence-led operations led to the significant arrest of suspected drug traffickers,” Ofoyeju said in a statement. He added that the command’s offensive targeted both trafficking and cultivation networks across several local government areas.
During the operations, NDLEA operatives intercepted a truck along Wareke-Auchi Road conveying 82 bags of cannabis concealed in bags of charcoal with a total weight of 1,025kg. Two suspects, Kabiru Abdulahi, 35, from Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State, and Anas Safiyanu, 20, from Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, were apprehended in connection with the seizure.
In a separate raid on a notorious drug flashpoint along Wire Road, Benin City, operatives arrested a 43-year-old man from Uhumwonde Local Government Area who was allegedly found with 98 pinches of crack cocaine weighing 13g concealed in a wooden stool. Two other suspects were arrested during coordinated sweeps of drug joints and cannabis farms, bringing the total number of persons taken into custody to five.
Ofoyeju said the command also destroyed six illicit cannabis plantations spanning over 26.43 hectares at Ugbogui Forest in Ovia South West LGA, Ataroro Forest in Owan West LGA, Urohi Forest in Esan West LGA, and Ogu Forest in Iguiben LGA, with an estimated yield of 66,078.57kg of skunk cannabis. The command further intercepted 1,506.57kg of assorted narcotics in the period under review.
“The breakdown of the seized drugs is as follows: Cannabis Sativa 1,502.26kg, psychotropic substances 4.27kg, including tramadol 3.964kg, nitrazepam 0.087kg, Swinol 0.0445kg, Danabol (Molly) 0.1163kg, methamphetamine 0.0184kg, cocaine 0.028kg, and heroin 0.014kg,” the commander stated.
He noted that the street value of the cannabis and other drugs seized in the operations was estimated at N724 million. “We want to send a clear message that drug traffickers and their collaborators have no safe harbour in Edo State. The NDLEA will continue to track, arrest, and prosecute offenders in line with the NDLEA Act,” Ofoyeju declared.
The suspects and seized exhibits have been taken into custody as investigations continue. Ofoyeju urged members of the public to cooperate with the NDLEA by providing credible information that can aid the war against drug trafficking.
