The Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency said it arrested 46 suspected drug traffickers and seized 6,439 kilogrammes of narcotics in January, securing seven convictions within the same period.
The state Commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Benin, noting that the arrests involved 36 males and 10 females.
One notable seizure during the month was 66 bags of cannabis, weighing 792kg, which were concealed inside bags of charcoal. Shaibu Yusuf was arrested along the Auchi-Abuja Expressway while attempting to transport the illicit drugs to northern Nigeria.
Ofoyeju said, “The ongoing battle against drug trafficking in 2026 has commenced on a successful note. The command has arrested 46 suspected traffickers with 6,439 kilogrammes of narcotic drugs in January alone.”
He commended the Commander of the Nigerian Army 4 Brigade in Benin City, Brigadier General A. O. Balogun, for his support in combating illicit drugs.
“Within the month under review, General Balogun transferred two suspects — Chief James Abamu (48) and Aboy Egah (31) — along with 681kg of cannabis and 181kg of cannabis seeds to the NDLEA,” Ofoyeju said.
He added that military personnel, in a joint operation with NDLEA agents, destroyed a cannabis farm in Ebora Camp, Ilushi Forest, Esan South East LGA, covering 1.63 hectares and yielding an estimated 4,063.87kg of cannabis, delivering a major setback to local cultivation cartels.
The commander further noted that the agency impounded a light green Toyota Yaris (Reg. No. USL 123HK) during routine operations at Ihama Road, Government Reservation Area, Benin City, as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt trafficking routes.
On the judicial front, the Edo NDLEA secured seven convictions in January, filed seven additional cases, and currently has 105 pending cases before the Federal High Court in Benin.
PUNCH Metro had earlier reported that in 2025, the Edo State NDLEA arrested 462 suspects and seized 207,595.54kg of illicit drugs through intensified crackdowns on cartels.
Ofoyeju attributed the successes to enhanced intelligence-led operations, effective legal prosecutions, and drug demand reduction initiatives, pledging continued efforts to ensure a drug-free Edo State.
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