The Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested 26 suspected drug traffickers and seized a total of 41,410.53 kilograms of various narcotic substances.
Mitchell Ofoyeju, state commander of the NDLEA, disclosed the figures in Benin while presenting the agency’s August 2025 progress report. He highlighted that the command’s intensified operations resulted in numerous arrests, substantial drug seizures, the destruction of cannabis farms, and other anti-drug abuse initiatives.
“The achievements were remarkable and underscored our proactive approach towards curbing drug-related crimes in Edo State. The twenty-six persons comprise twenty-two males and four females. Total drugs seized is 41,410.53 kilogrammes, with cannabis accounting for over ninety-nine per cent of the seized drugs at 41,387.36 kilogrammes,” Ofoyeju stated.
He added that other drugs seized included Tramadol 22.253 kg, Swinol 0.3085 kg, Danabol 0.0117 kg, Diazepam 0.5163 kg, Methamphetamine 0.0811 kg, along with 400 ml of Pentazocine and 10 litres of Codeine cough syrup.
In an effort to curb cannabis cultivation, the NDLEA destroyed four illegal plantations in Ebule Forest, Owan West LGA, covering 15.852732 hectares with an estimated yield of approximately 39,631.83 kg of cannabis.
Significant among the seizures was the evacuation of sixty-nine bags of skunk cannabis from a three-bedroom bungalow in Uzebba, Owan West, leading to the arrest of 54-year-old Fodo Stella Sunday. Additionally, a raid at RCC Junction, Sapele Road, Benin City, resulted in the arrest of three suspected traffickers—Itua Oselumen, 41, from Esan West LGA; Rabiu Yusuf, 38, from Nasarawa LGA, Kano State; and Fahad Ahmed, 24, from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State—alongside 2.05 kg of cannabis, 46 g of methamphetamine, 5 g of Danabol, 52 g of Swinol, 745 g of Tramadol, and 0.4 litres of Codeine.
While no convictions were recorded in August due to court vacations, six charges have been filed in the Federal High Court, Benin. Ofoyeju emphasised that the agency remains committed to ensuring justice for drug-related offences and urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to aid in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse in Edo State.
