NDLEA has arrested 68 suspected drug traffickers and seized 7,531.51kg of illicit drugs in Edo State during August 2026, while destroying four cannabis farms covering 2.57 hectares.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Edo State Command, has arrested 68 suspected drug traffickers and seized 7,531.51kg of illicit drugs during operations across the state in August 2026.
The suspects, comprising 34 males and 34 females, were arrested through a series of intelligence-led operations, according to the Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Dr Mitchell Ofoyeju.
Ofoyeju disclosed the figures on Thursday, September 3, 2026, while presenting the command’s August operational scorecard to journalists in Benin City.
He said cannabis accounted for 7,524.83kg of the total quantity of drugs seized or destroyed during the month. The figure comprised 1,098.177kg recovered during enforcement operations and 6,433.33kg destroyed at cannabis plantations.
Other substances recorded in the command’s seizures included 5.3311kg of psychotropic substances, 0.0668kg of methamphetamine and 34.8 litres of codeine syrup.
Ofoyeju described the operations as part of the command’s sustained effort to disrupt drug trafficking networks and remove illicit substances from communities across Edo State.
“We are unwavering in our commitment to tackling the drug problem in Edo State. Our recent operations showcase our dedication to flushing out drugs from our communities and apprehending those who wish to profit from the suffering of others,” he said.
The Edo NDLEA Command also uncovered and destroyed four cannabis farms as part of its efforts to tackle illicit cultivation.
Two of the farms were discovered in Igbanke Forest, Orhionmwon Local Government Area, while the other two were located in Ukaro Forest and Ewe Forest in Owan West Local Government Area.
The first farm in Igbanke Forest measured 0.699702 hectares and had an estimated yield of 1,749.255kg, while the second covered 1.15188 hectares with an estimated yield of 2,879.7kg.
The farm discovered at Ukaro Forest measured 0.496383 hectares and had an estimated yield of 1,240.9575kg, while the Ewe Forest farm covered 0.225366 hectares with an estimated yield of 563.415kg.
The four farms covered a combined 2.573331 hectares, with an estimated 6,433.33kg of cannabis destroyed.
The commander said the destruction of the plantations was part of a proactive strategy to prevent locally cultivated cannabis from entering the illicit drug market.
Ofoyeju said the command recorded no convictions during August because the Federal High Court was on vacation.
However, he disclosed that three new drug-related cases were charged during the month, while 87 cases remained pending before the court.
He said the command would continue to strengthen collaboration with community leaders, media organisations and other law enforcement agencies to combat drug trafficking and substance abuse.
Beyond arrests and seizures, the command also reported progress in its prevention, counselling and rehabilitation programmes.
According to Ofoyeju, the command’s counselling and treatment rehabilitation units provided counselling to 23 clients during August, while 12 individuals were enrolled in vocational training programmes.
The beneficiaries received training in skills including tailoring, perfume-making and liquid soap production to support their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
The command also conducted five drug-abuse sensitisation programmes attended by more than 2,150 participants.
Ofoyeju said combining enforcement with prevention, counselling, rehabilitation and public education remained essential to tackling substance abuse and protecting communities from its social and health consequences.
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