The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested 75 suspected drug traffickers and seized 2,496.12 kilogrammes of illicit substances in Edo State during October 2026, as part of efforts to curb drug trafficking and abuse.
The arrests, comprising 54 males and 21 females, were recorded alongside the destruction of eight cannabis farms measuring 5.73 hectares, with an estimated yield of 14,322.05kg.
The Commander of Narcotics, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed the figures in a statement on Monday, attributing the command’s intensified operations to the recent visit of the NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier-General Mohammed Marwa, which he described as a morale booster for officers.
According to Ofoyeju, the command seized a total of 2,496.12kg of illicit substances and destroyed eight cannabis farms spanning 5.73 hectares, with an estimated yield of 14,322.05kg.
He said the seizures included 2,492.6973kg of Cannabis Sativa, 3.2169kg of psychotropic substances, 0.20371kg of methamphetamine, 35 cylinders of nitrous oxide, popularly known as laughing gas, six cups of cannabis brownies and 4.1 litres of codeine syrup.
“The October arrests comprised 54 males and 21 females, while the seizures included 2,492.6973 kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa and 14,322.04kg of cannabis destroyed in the farms.
“Others are 3.2169kg of psychotropic substances, 0.20371 kilogrammes of methamphetamine, 35 cylinders of nitrous oxide (laughing gas), six cups of brownies and 4.1 litres of codeine syrup,” he stressed.
Ofoyeju identified the interception of a black Toyota Camry conveying 1,049 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 702.83kg at Otuo, Owan East Local Government Area, as one of the major seizures recorded during the month.
He said three suspected traffickers, comprising two men and a woman, were arrested in connection with the consignment.The suspects were identified as Monday Orji, 52; Monday Lawal, 40; and Precious Uduegele, 20.
The destroyed cannabis farms 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 its prosecution activities, the NDLEA commander said the command secured six convictions and filed 14 cases in court, while 103 cases remained pending.
He added that the command’s Counselling, Treatment and Rehabilitation Unit attended to 47 clients, comprising 33 males and 14 females, who received counselling before being released to their families.
According to him, 12 other clients were undergoing rehabilitation and vocational training in skills such as tailoring, embroidery, perfume-making and liquid soap production.
Ofoyeju also revealed that the command conducted 10 sensitisation programmes across six schools, places of worship, markets and public spaces in Benin City, reaching 5,293 people, including 2,324 males and 2,969 females.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating drug trafficking and abuse in the state, describing a society free of drug abuse as priceless.