The Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Monday said it had arrested 46 suspected drug traffickers, seized about 40,000 kilograms of Illicit drugs and destroyed 15.85 hectares of cannabis plantations.
The NDLEA Edo State Commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, stated in Benin while presenting the command’s scorecard for July that the monthly activities covered several intelligence-led operations, which resulted in the dislodgement of drug flashpoints in the state.
He said the command intensified its crackdown on drug traffickers with the coordinated raid on Ihama Road in the Government Reservation Area and other drug flashpoints within the state.
He said, “The July result reflects the ongoing commitment to dismantling drug trafficking operations in the state. We apprehended 46 drug suspects, comprising 38 males and eight females.
“A total of seven cannabis farms measuring 15.85 hectares across Oke Forest in Uhunmwonde and Ewere Forest in Uzebba, Owan West Local Government Areas, were destroyed.
“In all, we successfully took 39,983 kg of narcotic drugs out of illicit circulation. The breakdown of the drugs is as follows: cannabis, 39,977.644 kg; psychotropic substances, 5.6 kg; methamphetamine, 0.26 grammes; cocaine, 0.0598 grammes; and 5.8 litres of codeine syrup,” Ofoyeju stated.
He said that among those arrested is a suspected drug baron and cannabis cultivator, Alaba Monday, (49 years) who hails from Owan West local government area of the state. He said he has been on the command’s wanted list since 2023 and he was apprehended inside one of the cannabis farms, where 11 bags of processed cannabis, weighing 115 kg, were seized.
He added, “One Yusuf Isuku, (40 years old), who hails from Etsako West, was arrested along Wareke Road, Auchi, with 22 parcels of skunk, a strong variant of cannabis, weighing 10.265 kg. The drug was hidden inside a sack of garri. Josiah Friday, (48 years), who hails from the Akoko Edo area of the state, was apprehended along Igara-Auchi Road in Igara with five bags of cannabis weighing 36 kg hidden inside black polythene.
“Another interesting case is that of one Izunna Nwankwo, (26 years) who was arrested along Benin-Auchi Road with assorted psychotropic drugs. The suspect, who hails from Ishielu local government area of Ebonyi State, was found with 15,400 capsules of tramadol, 200 tablets of swinol, 357 tablets of molly and 54 bottles of codeine cough syrup.
“Similarly, some of the drug dealers arrested along the notorious Ihama Road, GRA Benin City, include 29 years old Emmanuel Onaji, from Ogbadibo local government area of Benue State, caught with molly, Joshua Paul, 21 years old, from Ovia North East, Edo State, was caught with Loud; Prosper Titus, 20 years old, from Gboko local government area of Benue State, was caught with Loud; Andy Obioma, 28 years old, from Kana local government of Rivers State; and Agu Emmanuel, 23 years old, from Kachia local government area of Kaduna State, was caught with Loud.”
He also said that in addition to enforcement actions, the command has been actively engaging the community through drug demand reduction initiatives.
He stated that 32 individuals with drug use problems received brief intervention counselling, while 11 others were currently undergoing rehabilitation in the command facility.
He said the command equally organised multiple sensitisation programmes throughout the month, reaching an impressive audience of over 8,000 individuals within the period under review.
