In a sweeping crackdown on drug trafficking across Edo State, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made significant progress in its July operations. A total of 46 suspects were arrested, and nearly 40,000 kilograms of assorted narcotics were seized in a series of intelligence-led raids targeting notorious drug flashpoints, including the Ihama Road corridor in Benin City.
Among those arrested was a 49-year-old suspected drug baron and cannabis cultivator, Alaba Monday, who had been on the NDLEA’s wanted list since 2023. He was apprehended inside one of the cannabis farms in Owan West Local Government Area, where 11 bags of processed cannabis weighing 115 kilograms were recovered.
The NDLEA also destroyed seven cannabis farms spanning 15.85 hectares in Oke Forest (Uhunmwonde) and Ewere Forest (Uzebba, Owan West). The seized substances included 39,977.644 kilograms of cannabis, 5.5753 kilograms of psychotropic substances, 0.26 grams of methamphetamine, 0.0598 grams of cocaine, and 5.8 litres of codeine syrup.
Other notable arrests included Yusuf Isuku, 40, from Etsako West, caught with 22 parcels of skunk hidden in garri-filled black bags, totaling 10.265 kilograms. Josiah Friday, 48, from Akoko Edo, was intercepted with five bags of cannabis weighing 36 kilograms concealed in black polythene sacks. Along the Benin-Auchi Road, Izunna Nwankwo, 26, from Ebonyi State, was found with 15,400 capsules of tramadol, 200 tablets of swinol, 357 tablets of molly, and 54 bottles of codeine syrup.
The NDLEA also arrested several young suspects with Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, including Prosper Titus (20) from Gboko, Joshua Paul (21) from Ovia North-East, Agu Emmanuel (23) from Kaduna, and Andy Obioma (28) from Rivers State. Emmanuel Onaji, 29, from Benue State, was caught with molly along Ihama Road, a known drug hotspot.
Beyond enforcement, the NDLEA intensified its drug demand reduction efforts across the state. Thirty-two individuals received brief intervention counseling, eleven persons are currently undergoing rehabilitation, and over 8,000 residents were reached through sensitization programs aimed at curbing drug abuse and promoting community awareness.
Commander Mitchell Ofoyeju reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks and restoring safety to Edo communities. “We will not relent until drug trafficking networks are destroyed and our communities are free from their grip,” he stated.
This operation marks a major milestone in the NDLEA’s ongoing fight against narcotics in Edo State and sends a clear message to traffickers that the agency remains vigilant and determined.
