Dec: The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Monday said it intercepted 457kg of skunk marijuana during an intelligence-led raid in the Uroe community, Owan East Local Government Area of Edo.
The agency also said that it arrested a suspected trafficker linked to the restricted narcotics.
The Edo Commander of the NDLEA, Dr Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this at a media briefing in Benin on the command’s recent achievements.
He said that the operation, which was carried out on Dec. 9, led to the arrest of the 44-year-old suspect at an illegal warehouse allegedly used for drug storage.
Ofoyeju disclosed that operatives of the command recovered 15 bags of marijuana weighing 457kg, alongside a sack containing 4kg of marijuana seeds.
He described the seizure as a major blow to drug trafficking networks in the state.
“The operation reflects our unwavering commitment to the eradication of drug trafficking in Edo State,” he said
He added that the quantity seized posed a serious threat to public health and safety.
Besides, the NDLEA boss warned that traffickers will find no safe haven in the state, as the agency will continue to track, arrest and prosecute offenders in line with the NDLEA Act.
He said that investigations were ongoing, while the suspect and seized drugs had been taken into custody as part of efforts to dismantle a wider trafficking network.
Meanwhile, the suspect, who spoke while in custody, attributed his alleged involvement in the drug trade to economic hardship, adding that family responsibilities pushed him into the act.