The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Edo State Command, arrested 75 suspected drug traffickers in connection with 16,818.17kg of illegal drugs in October 2026.
The details came out in a statement on Monday from the Commander of Narcotics, Mitchell Ofoyeju. He said the visit of the agency’s Chairman, Mohammed Buba Marwa, helped boost the command's fight against drug traffickers.
Ofoyeju noted that the command seized a total of 2,496.11791kg of illegal substances. They also identified and destroyed eight cannabis farms covering 5.728819 hectares. The estimated yield from these farms was 14,322.0475kg.
"The October arrests included 54 males and 21 females. The seizures contained 2,492.6973 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa and 14,322.04kg of cannabis destroyed on the farms. Other items seized were 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."
Ofoyeju said, "The Chairman’s visit is a moral booster to us, and I am glad to do more."
One major seizure for the month involved a black Toyota Camry in Otuo, Owan East Local Government Area. The car was found with 1,049 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 702.83kg.
Three suspected traffickers were arrested, two males and one female. They are Monday Orji, 52; Monday Lawal, 40; and Precious Uduegele, 20.
The destroyed cannabis farms were in Uzebba Forest and Ukhuise-Osi Community in Owan West Local Government Area. Other locations include Ugbada Forest in Owan West, Ugboshi Ele Forest in Akoko Edo, and Eco Camp, Illushi, in Esan South-East Local Government Area.
On the legal side, Ofoyeju said the command secured six convictions and charged 14 cases in court. There are also 103 cases still pending.
He mentioned that the Counselling, Treatment and Rehabilitation, along with Prevention and Sensitisation units, counselled 47 clients. This included 33 males and 14 females. The clients who received counselling were released to their families. Twelve others are undergoing rehabilitation and vocational training in areas like tailoring, embroidery, perfume-making, and liquid soap-making.
Ofoyeju said the command carried out 10 sensitisation programmes in six schools, places of worship, markets, and public places in Benin City. They reached 5,293 participants, including 2,324 males and 2,969 females.
He added that the command will keep working hard to rid Edo State of illegal drugs, stressing that a drug-free society is priceless.
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