The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Edo State Command, has arrested 75 suspected drug traffickers in connection with 16,818.17kg of illicit drugs in October 2026.
The statistics were released in a statement on Monday by the Commander of Narcotics, Mitchell Ofoyeju, who described the visit of the chairman, Mohammed Buba Marwa, as a catalyst for the command’s fight against drug traffickers.
According to Ofoyeju, the command seized a total of 2,496.11791 kilograms of illicit substances and identified and destroyed eight cannabis farms measuring 5.728819 hectares, with an estimated yield of 14,322.0475 kilograms.
“The October arrests comprised 54 males and 21 females, while the seizures included 2,492.6973 kilograms of Cannabis sativa and 14,322.04kg of cannabis destroyed in the farms.
“Others are 3.2169kg of psychotropic substances, 0.20371 kilograms of methamphetamine, 35 cylinders of nitrous oxide (laughing gas), six cups of brownies and 4.1 litres of codeine syrup.
“The chairman’s visit is a moral booster to us, and I am glad to do more,” Ofoyeju added.
He said that one of the spectacular seizures of the month was the impoundment of a black Toyota Camry at Otuo, Owan East Local Government Area, conveying 1,049 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 702.83 kg.
He said that three suspected traffickers, two males and a female, were arrested: Monday Orji, 52; Monday Lawal, 40; and Precious Uduegele, 20.
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The cannabis farms destroyed were located in Uzebba Forest and Ukhuise-Osi Community in Owan West Local Government Area; Ugbada Forest, also in Owan West; Ugboshi Ele Forest in Akoko Edo; and Eco Camp, Illushi, in Esan South-East Local Government Area.
On the prosecution front, Ofoyeju said the command secured six convictions and charged 14 cases to court, while 103 cases were pending.
He said the Counselling, Treatment and Rehabilitation, as well as Prevention and Sensitisation units, counselled 47 clients, comprising 33 males and 14 females. The counselled clients had been released to their families, while 12 others were undergoing rehabilitation and vocational training in tailoring, embroidery, perfume making and liquid soap making.
He noted that the command also carried out 10 sensitisation programmes at six schools, places of worship, markets and public places in Benin City, reaching a total of 5,293 participants, comprising 2,324 males and 2,969 females.
Ofoyeju said the command would continue to work hard to rid Edo State of illicit drugs, adding that a drug-abuse-free society was priceless.
Source: Punch · Adeyinka Adedipe
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