NDLEA seizes N1.8b drugs, arrests 104 suspects in Edo

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it seized illicit drugs worth N1.8 billion in the first three months of the year in Edo State.

The state commander Mitchell Ofoyeju disclosed this on Tuesday while presenting the command’s first-quarter operational scorecard in Benin City.

According to Ofoyeju, a total of 18,380 kilogrammes of drugs were recovered from 104 suspected traffickers during intelligence-led operations.

He said: “The Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has apprehended 104 suspected drug traffickers with 18,380 kilograms of narcotics estimated to cost N1.8 billion.”

The suspects include 71 males and 33 females.

Ofoyeju said the seizures comprised 5,825kg recovered drugs and 12,556kg of cannabis destroyed across 10 farms measuring 5.02260 hectares.

Breakdown of the drugs shows cannabis accounted for 18,293kg, psychotropic substances 6.01kg, methamphetamine 0.1888kg, cocaine 0.023kg, heroin 0.0151kg, and codeine syrup 81.4 litres.

The command also secured 36 convictions at the Federal High Court in Benin City, involving 32 males and four females.

Beyond enforcement, Ofoyeju said the agency intensified public sensitisation, conducting 26 anti-drug abuse programmes.

He added that 28 drug-dependent persons were rehabilitated, while 66 others received counselling and were reunited with their families.