The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 457 kilogrammes of skunk marijuana and arrested a suspected trafficker during an intelligence-led raid in Edo State.
The Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Dr Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this on Monday in Benin while briefing journalists on recent achievements recorded by the command.
According to Ofoyeju, the operation was carried out on December 9 at Uroe community in Owan East Local Government Area, where operatives raided an illegal warehouse allegedly used for drug storage.
He said the raid led to the arrest of a 44-year-old suspect believed to be connected to the illicit drug trade.
Ofoyeju revealed that NDLEA operatives recovered 15 bags of skunk marijuana weighing a total of 457kg, as well as a sack containing 4kg of marijuana seeds.
He described the seizure as a significant setback for drug trafficking networks operating within the state.
“The operation reflects our unwavering commitment to the eradication of drug trafficking in Edo State,” the commander said.
He added that the large quantity of narcotics seized posed a serious threat to public health and safety, warning that traffickers would find no safe haven in the state.
Ofoyeju stressed that the NDLEA would continue to track, arrest and prosecute offenders in line with the provisions of the NDLEA Act.
He said investigations were ongoing to dismantle the wider trafficking network linked to the suspect, noting that both the suspect and the seized drugs were currently in custody.
Meanwhile, the suspect, who spoke while in detention, attributed his alleged involvement in drug trafficking to economic hardship, claiming that family responsibilities pushed him into the act.
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