Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
The Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its offensive against illicit drug activities across the state, destroying two cannabis plantations containing a combined 4,628.9kg of the illicit crop and arresting 10 suspected drug traffickers in separate operations.
Acting on credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives stormed Ugboku in the Igbanke forest of Orhionmwon Local Government Area, where they uncovered two cannabis plantations and destroyed the farms, preventing the large quantity of the illicit crop from reaching the drug market.
In a separate operation in Benin City, operatives raided Abuja Quarters, leading to the arrest of 10 suspected drug traffickers. The operation also disrupted criminal activities and dislodged suspected illicit drug dealers operating in the area.
The latest operations form part of the Command’s sustained efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks, destroy cannabis cultivation sites and disrupt the supply chain of illicit drugs in Edo State.
The NDLEA said the operations demonstrate its resolve to take the fight against drug trafficking and cultivation to the doorsteps of those involved, while ensuring that Edo State does not become a haven for illicit drug activities.
According to the Commander of the NDLEA in Edo State, Commander of Narcotics Mitchell Ofoyeju, the operation is in line with the Chairman’s Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa’s, operational order to dislodge illicit drug locations nationwide.
“In a renewed offensive tasking order, the command discovered and successfully destroyed two cannabis farms that measured 1.851591 hectares with an estimated yield of 4,628.9775 kilograms.
One suspect, Agholor Elebojie, a 40-year-old male, was apprehended in connection with the first farm.
The farm, measuring 0.699792 hectares, had an estimated yield of 1,749.26 kilograms.
The second farm, measuring 1.151889 hectares, had an estimated yield of 2,879.7225 kilograms was also destroyed.
Additionally, two bags of processed cannabis sativa weighing 12.4 kilograms were recovered from the second farm,” Mitchell said.
In a separate operation, officers carried out a targeted raid and dislodged drug flashpoints at Oluku and Abuja Quarters, G.R.A., Oredo Local Government Area, Benin City.
The operation led to the arrest of 10 suspected male drug traffickers with various quantities of illicit substances.
At Oluku, Kingsley Anigala, a 28-year-old male from Aniocha South LGA, Delta State, was arrested with 25.857 kilograms of cannabis and 93 grams of methamphetamine.
His arrest took place on 14th August, 2026.
At the Abuja Quarters, nine suspects were arrested on 13th August, 2026.
They include Usman Adamu, 20, from Nassarawa State, with 47 grams of Loud and 160 grams of cannabis sativa; Abdullahi Adamu, 25, from Nassarawa State, with 107 grams of Loud, 2.1 grams of Swinol, and 0.1 grams of Danabol; Nasiru Yahaya, 29, from Katsina State, with 226 grams of cannabis sativa; Yunusa Musa, 28; Musa Shehu, 25; Kabiru Salisu, 28; Adamu Zakaria, 26; Andulrasheed Sani, 35; and Peter Hycent, 35, from Nassarawa, Kano, and Benue States, respectively.
They were arrested with a combined haul of 1.3 kilograms of Cannabis sativa, 3 kilograms of loud, 301 grams of 100 mg Tramadol, 19 grams of 225 mg Tramadol, 47 grams of Diazepam, 5 grams of Swinol, 8 grams of Danabol, and 3 grams of methamphetamine.
All suspects have been taken into custody, and investigations are ongoing in preparation for prosecution.
