Operatives of the Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have dealt a massive blow to illicit drug networks in the state, arresting 29 suspected traffickers and confiscating a staggering 10,359 kilograms of narcotic drugs.
The State Commander of the agency, Mitchell Ofoyeju, announced the major breakthrough on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, while presenting the command’s operational scorecard for the month of April. Ofoyeju described the achievements as a testament to the agency’s decisive and unrelenting war against drug trafficking and substance abuse across Edo State.
According to the NDLEA boss, the arrested suspects include 19 males and 10 females. They were intercepted during a series of targeted raids on notorious drug flashpoints and intensive motorized patrols strategically executed across the state.
A meticulous breakdown of the seized illicit substances revealed a massive haul of cannabis weighing 9,611.69kg. Other confiscated narcotics included 748.02kg of psychotropic substances, 444kg of tramadol, 25.2kg of rohypnol, 242.82kg of diazepam injection, and 36kg of bromazepam. While no methamphetamine was recorded, operatives also intercepted 20.2 liters of codeine syrup.
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In a related tactical operation, the command located and completely destroyed a massive cannabis farm at Egbeta Forest, Saboro Camp, in the Ovia North-East Local Government Area. The plantation, which spanned 0.912574 hectares, was estimated to yield approximately 2,281.435kg of cannabis before it was leveled by operatives.
On the legal front, Ofoyeju revealed that the command secured five convictions and filed four new charges within April. Furthermore, 89 cases are currently pending at the Federal High Court in Benin City, underscoring the agency’s rigorous legal battles against drug offenders.
Beyond enforcement, the Edo NDLEA command is also prioritizing drug demand reduction. The unit provided professional counseling services to 13 referred clients who were subsequently reunited with their families, while rehabilitation programs are ongoing for 12 other individuals.
To prevent drug abuse at the grassroots, the agency successfully conducted seven community sensitization programs throughout the month. Reaffirming their stance, Ofoyeju vowed that the NDLEA would continue to intensify its operational efforts and community engagements to completely dismantle drug trafficking syndicates across Edo State.
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