The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has destroyed 66,078.57kg of skunk cannabis and arrested 54 suspected drug traffickers during its September operations in Edo.
Commander of Narcotics in the state, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this on Tuesday in Benin while presenting the command’s operational scorecard
According to him, the successes are achieved through intelligence-led operations across multiple local government areas of the state.
“Our intelligence-led operations led to the arrest of 54 suspected drug traffickers, comprising 43 males and 11 females.
“In a proactive measure to curb cannabis cultivation, six illicit plantations spanning over 26.43 hectares were destroyed,” Ofoyeju said.
These plantations, he said, were located in Ugbogui Forest (Ovia South West), Ataroro Forest (Owan West), Urohi Forest (Esan West) and Ogu Forest (Iguiben LGA), with an estimated yield of over 66,000kg of skunk cannabis.
The NDLEA boss said the command also intercepted 1,506.57kg of assorted narcotics, including 1,502.26kg of cannabis sativa, 3.96kg of tramadol, and 0.087kg of Nitrazepam.
Others, he said, were 0.044kg of Swinol, 0.116kg of Danabol (Molly), 0.018kg of Methamphetamine, 0.028kg of cocaine, and 0.014 kilograms of heroin.
In one major operation, the commander said the operatives intercepted a truck along Wareke–Auchi Road conveying 82 bags of cannabis concealed in bags of charcoal, weighing 1,025 kilograms.
He said two suspects (names withheld) both from Zamfara were arrested in connection with the seizure.
He added that another raid on a notorious drug flashpoint along Wire Road, Benin City, led to the arrest of a 43-year-old man from Uhumwonde Local Government, allegedly found with 98 pinches of crack cocaine weighing 13g concealed in a wooden stool.
Ofoyeju noted that despite an annual court vacation that slowed prosecutions, the command secured one conviction, filed four new cases, and had 118 drug-related cases ongoing at the Federal High Court, Benin City.
He said the command also provided counselling and rehabilitation support to 32 individuals, including 10 clients undergoing therapy.
He said the command was had intensified anti-drug sensitisation campaigns in markets, schools, and correctional facilities across the state.
“We are determined to dismantle drug trafficking networks operating in Edo State.
“The command remains committed to safeguarding our communities, reducing drug demand, and ensuring that offenders face justice,” he stated.
Ofoyeju, however, identified logistical challenges such as poor terrain and lack of operational vehicles in forested areas, which often impede the agency’s efforts to combat illicit cultivation.
He reaffirmed NDLEA’s resolve to sustain momentum in the ongoing war against narcotics, describing the latest achievements as “a critical step toward reclaiming the safety and health of Edo citizens.” (NAN)
