The Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it has seized illicit drugs worth N1.8 billion in the first three months of the year.
The State Commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this on Tuesday while presenting the command’s first-quarter operational scorecard in Benin.
According to Ofoyeju, during this period, 18,380 kilogrammes of drugs were seized from 104 suspected drug traffickers.
Ofoyeju said those arrested during various intelligence-led raid operations comprised 71 males and 33 females.
He explained that 18,380kg of drugs that were recovered, included 5,825kg seized and 12,556kg of cannabis destroyed in 10 cannabis farms measuring 5.02260 hectares.
He gave a breakdown of the drugs as follows; cannabis 18,293kg, psychotropic 6.01kg, methamphetamine 0.1888kg, cocaine 0.023kg, heroin 0.0151kg and codeine cough syrup 81.4 litres.
He said, “The Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has apprehended 104 suspected drug traffickers with 18,380 kilograms of narcotics estimated to cost N1.8 billion.”
Ofoyeju also said the agency secured 36 convictions secured at the Federal High Court, Benin City, comprising 32 males and four (4) females.
He noted that the command also intensified anti-drug abuse education with 26 programmes to highlight the dangers of drug trafficking and abuse. He said 28 drug-dependent clients were rehabilitated, while 66 others received counselling and were reunited with their families.
Ofoyeju said in line with the award culture of the NDLEA Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, 10 officers, four journalists and one legal aid lawyer were recognised for their outstanding performances in advancing the fight against narcotic drugs.
He said that the awards were instituted to motivate officers and strengthen partnerships critical to the agency’s success.
The awardees include DCN Timothy Nku, Best Area Commander; DCN Hope Aigbogun, Best WADA Facilitator; while ACN Ella Ordiah was awarded Best Prosecutor. CSN Habibu Dauda was named Most Productive Officer; ASNI Omakor Isioma Uyoyomaro was awarded Most Resourceful Officer, and ASNI Omotosho Abass got the Best Investigating Officer Award.
Other officers celebrated were ASNII Abdulazeez Oboh Azeko, recognised as Most Dedicated Officer; ASNII James Magani, Most Diligent Officer; CNA Emuakpor Obada, Most Disciplined Officer; and NASSI Paul Umoh, named Best-Dressed Officer.
The command also presented awards to its Best Media Partners for 2025. The recipients are Adeyinka Adedipe of The Punch Newspapers; Bello Usman of Daily Trust Newspapers; Nafeesa Bello of the Edo Broadcasting Service; and Usman Aliyu
