FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Edo State Command destroyed 66,078.57kg of skunk cannabis, while 54 suspected drug traffickers were apprehended with 1,506.57kg of various narcotic drugs in the month of September.
Presenting the operational scorecard of the command in Benin City, the State NDLEA Commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju said the command recorded significant successes in its September operations.
He said intelligence operations led to the arrest of 54 suspected drug traffickers comprising 43 males and 11 females.
“In a proactive measure to curb cannabis cultivation, six illicit plantations spanning over 26.43 hectares were destroyed. They were located at Ugbogui Forest, Ovia South West Local Government Area; Ataroro Forest, Owan West Local Government Are; Urohi Forest, Esan West Local Government Area; and Ogu Forest, Igueben Local Government Area, with an estimated yield of 66,078.5715kg of skunk cannabis. The command also intercepted 1,506.57kg of illicit drugs,” he said.
According to him, the breakdown of the seized drugs include 1,502. 26kg of cannabis sativa, 4.27kg of psychotropic substances, 3.964kg of tramadol, 0.0445kg of nitrazepam, 0.0445kg of Swinol, 0.1163 of Danabol (Molly), 0.0184kg of methamphetamine, 0.028kg of cocaine and 0.014kg og heroin.
“Some of the interesting cases include the interception of a truck along Wareke-Auchi Road, conveying 82 bags of cannabis concealed in bags of charcoal with a total weight of 1,025kg.
Two suspects, Kabiru Abdulahi, 35 years old, male, from Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State and Anas Safiyanu, 20 years old, male, from Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, have been apprehended in connection with the drug seizure.
“In another raid at a drug flashpoint along Wire Road, Benin City, one suspected male drug trafficker, Etiosa Bazuaye, 43 years old from Uhumwonde Local Government Area was apprehended with 98 pinches of crack cocaine weighing 13 grams hidden in a wooden stool.
He added that as a result of the annual court vacation, one conviction was secured in drug-related cases, while four additional cases have been charged with 118 cases ongoing at the Federal High Court in Benin City.
