The Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested 48 suspected drug traffickers and seized 541.47 kilogrammes of illicit drugs in May as part of its ongoing crackdown on drug trafficking and abuse.
The State Commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, saying the arrests and seizures were made through intelligence-led operations conducted across drug hotspots in the state.
According to him, the suspects comprised 25 males and 23 females arrested during separate operations.
A breakdown of the seizures showed that Cannabis sativa accounted for the bulk of the haul, with 540.6253kg recovered. Other substances seized included 0.2701kg of psychotropic substances such as tramadol, Swinol, diazepam and Rohypnol; 0.1415kg of methamphetamine; and 1.4 litres of codeine syrup.
Ofoyeju said, “The NDLEA Edo State Command arrested 48 suspected drug traffickers in May. The arrests comprised 25 males and 23 females nabbed during intelligence-led operations at various drug flashpoints across the state.”
He added that the command’s legal unit secured three convictions during the period, while five new cases were filed in court. He noted that 94 drug-related cases are currently pending before the Federal High Court in Benin City.
The commander said one of the major seizures was made from a suspect, Lucky Omen, who was arrested with a large bag of cannabis sativa weighing 27.3kg.
He added that Joseph Osin was found with 743 grammes of Cannabis sativa, while Prince Aniete was arrested with 373 grammes of loud, 11 grammes of tramadol and three grammes of Swinol. Another suspect, Esther Okes, was found in possession of 194 grammes of cannabis sativa.
Ofoyeju further disclosed that operatives raided drug hotspots in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area, leading to the arrest of two suspects, 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 two 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,” he said.
On drug demand reduction efforts, Ofoyeju said the command counselled 31 clients comprising 24 males and seven females, all of whom had been reunited with their families, while eight others are currently undergoing rehabilitation.
He added that the command also organised five drug abuse sensitisation programmes during the month, including the Benin City Teens and Youth Invasion programme, where participants were educated on the causes, effects and prevention of drug abuse among youths.
The commander commended officers of the agency for their vigilance and professionalism, saying the successes recorded reflected the command’s commitment to eliminating illicit drugs from the state.
“These operations send a strong message to drug traffickers that Edo State is not a haven for their illegal trade. We will continue to intensify our raids and intelligence-led operations to apprehend those involved in the distribution and sale of narcotics,” Ofoyeju said.
He added that investigations into the cases were ongoing and that the suspects would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The NDLEA boss also appealed to members of the public, families and institutions to continue supporting the agency with credible information to strengthen the fight against drug trafficking and substance abuse in the state.
Read the full article here
