The Nationwide Drug Regulation Enforcement Company (NDLEA) in Edo state has apprehended two articulated vehicles loaded with 7,245 Kilo Grammes of suspected hashish alongside the Auchi–Abuja freeway.
Commander of the company, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this at a information convention in Benin Tuesday.
Ofoyeju stated 5 suspected traffickers had been arrested in reference to the seizure, describing the feat as a serious blow to interstate drug networks.
Based on him, that is the primary time the command has intercepted two illicit drug vehicles concurrently.
The profitable interception of those suspected illicit drug vehicles is a transparent message to drug barons that Edo will not be a secure haven for drug cartels.
“The dimensions of this seizure (over seven metric tonnes) with a avenue worth of N724 million, highlights the magnitude of the command’s effectiveness and its intelligence-driven operations.”
He stated the operation, which adopted 72 hours of surveillance and intelligence gathering, led operatives to intercept the vehicles disguised as beer cartons.
The commander stated the arrested suspects had been believed to be a part of a community that transported the consignment from Sabongida-Ora in Owan West native authorities space to Abuja.
“This seizure has prevented an enormous amount of illicit medication from reaching our streets and destroying lives, significantly amongst younger folks,” he stated.
Ofoyeju added that the operation aligned with the company’s mandate of dismantling drug trafficking networks, seizing of suspected illicit substances and prosecuting offenders.
The NDLEA chief added that investigations had been ongoing to uncover the total community behind the operation, whereas the vehicles used for the haulage could be confiscated as reveals.
(NAN)