The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Edo State Command, has recorded significant successes in its fight against drug trafficking, destroying three large cannabis plantations and seizing over 4,900 kilograms of various illicit substances in June.
The State Commander, Dr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this during a media briefing on Tuesday in Benin while presenting the command’s operational scorecard for the month.
Ofoyeju revealed that operatives arrested 42 suspected drug traffickers during the period, comprising 24 males and 18 females. The command also secured the conviction of 10 offenders in court.
According to him, the agency recovered a total of 4,905.36kg of assorted illicit drugs. This included 4,169.02kg of cannabis destroyed from three plantations and 736.34kg intercepted during enforcement operations. The seizures also featured methamphetamine, psychotropic substances such as Swinol, diazepam, and Rohypnol, as well as 54.2 litres of codeine syrup.
The commander highlighted a major breakthrough in the war against cannabis cultivation. On June 17, operatives raided Ikao Forest in Owan East Local Government Area, destroying two cannabis farms spanning 0.69763 hectares with an estimated yield of 1,744.075kg. A 45-year-old suspect was arrested at the scene with 169kg of processed cannabis.
In a separate operation at Ebora Camp in Ilushi, Esan South-East Local Government Area, another plantation measuring 0.969978 hectares was destroyed, with an estimated yield of 2,424.945kg. One suspect was arrested with 395kg of skunk cannabis.
Ofoyeju also reported that suspected traffickers abandoned a large consignment of illicit pharmaceuticals during a raid in Uromi while attempting to evade arrest. The recovered items included 540 bottles of codeine syrup, 11,100 capsules of tramadol, 2,500 tablets of Swinol, and 100 ampoules of Pentazocine injection.
On the prosecution front, the command filed three fresh cases and currently has 79 cases pending before the Federal High Court in Benin. In addition to enforcement, the NDLEA intensified drug demand reduction efforts, counselling 19 individuals (15 males and four females) who have been successfully reunited with their families. Seven persons are currently undergoing rehabilitation, while six sensitisation programmes were conducted across the state.
The commander, however, expressed concern over the link between drug abuse and emerging security challenges, particularly kidnapping and cult-related violence in areas such as Oredo, Etsako West, and Akoko-Edo.
He appealed to members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to support the agency’s operations. “The command will continue to work hard in dismantling drug trafficking cartels in the state,” Ofoyeju assured.
The NDLEA’s sustained efforts in Edo State demonstrate a comprehensive approach combining enforcement, prosecution, and rehabilitation to curb the menace of drug abuse and trafficking.
