The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Edo State Command, says it arrested 48 suspected drug traffickers in May.
The Edo State NDLEA Commander disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, adding that the command also recorded the seizure of 541.47 kilogrammes of narcotic drugs in its ongoing war against drug trafficking and abuse.
The commander said the arrests comprised 25 males and 22 females nabbed during intelligence-led operations at various drug flashpoints across the state.
A breakdown of the seizures showed that cannabis sativa dominated the haul, with 540.6253 kg. Other substances seized included 0.2701 kg of psychotropic substances, including tramadol, Swinol, diazepam and Rohypnol; 0.1415 kg of methamphetamine; and 1.4 litres of codeine syrup.
He said, “The NDLEA, Edo State Command, has arrested 48 suspected drug traffickers in the month of May. The arrests comprised 25 males and 22 females nabbed during intelligence-led operations at various drug flashpoints across the state.”
He also said the command’s legal unit recorded three convictions in court, while five new cases were filed and 94 cases are pending at the Federal High Court in Benin City.
According to Ofoyeju, the most significant seizure came from Lucky Omen, from whom a giant bag of cannabis sativa weighing 27.3kg was recovered. Joseph Osin was found with 743 grammes of cannabis sativa, Prince Aniete was caught with 373 grammes of Loud, 11 grammes of tramadol and three grammes of Swinol, while Esther Okes was found in possession of 194 grammes of cannabis sativa.
He added: “In a similar operation, officers raided drug hotspots within Auchi town, Etsako West Local Government Area of the state. The raid led to the arrest of two suspected drug traffickers: Abdulmalik Sunday, 30, and Abayomi Precious, 29. Items recovered from Abayomi Precious include 238 grammes of Loud, three grammes of Colorado, 22 grammes of Tramadol (100mg), 23 grammes of Swinol and 2 grammes of Rohypnol. Abdulmalik Sunday was found with 18 grammes of Loud, 58 grammes of Colorado, 14 grammes of Tramadol, five grammes of Swinol and 53 grammes of methamphetamine.”
In the area of drug demand reduction, Ofoyeju said the command counselled 31 clients comprising 24 males and seven females, adding that they have been released to their families, while eight others are currently undergoing rehabilitation.
He said the unit also carried out five sensitisation programmes during the month, including the Benin City Teens and Youth Invasion programme, where the commander spoke on the topic Drug Abuse Among Youth: Causes, Effects and Preventive Measures.
Ofoyeju commended the officers for their vigilance and professionalism and stated that the arrests and seizures demonstrate the command’s commitment to ridding the state of illicit drugs.
“These operations are a clear message to drug traffickers that Edo State is not a safe haven for their illegal trade. We will continue to intensify our raids and intelligence-led operations to apprehend those involved in the distribution and sales of narcotics,” Ofoyeju said.
He added that investigations have commenced into the cases of the arrested suspects, and that they would be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
The commander also called on members of the public, families and institutions to continue providing useful information to the agency in the fight against drug abuse and trafficking in the state.
Read the full article here
