By Ozioruva Aliu

BENIN CITY — The Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intercepted two articulated trucks conveying 7,245 kilograms of suspected cannabis sativa and arrested five suspected traffickers.

The agency said the seized drugs have an estimated street value of N724.5 million.

Addressing journalists in Benin City, the State Commander, Mitchel Ofoyeju, described the operation as a major breakthrough, noting that it would significantly disrupt inter-state drug trafficking networks.

According to him, the first truck, with registration number OYO LUY 172 XC, contained 260 bags weighing 3,900 kilograms, while the second truck, marked OYO LUY 281 XC, carried 223 bags weighing 3,345 kilograms, bringing the total to 483 bags.

Preliminary investigations, he said, revealed that the consignments originated from Sabongida-Ora in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State and were en route to Abuja before being intercepted.

The suspects were identified as Ibrahim Abu (29), Abu Abdullazeez (28), Jibril Jaminu (35), Andrew Moses (22) and Ganiyu Abu (21), all indigenes of Etsako East and Etsako West Local Government Areas of the state.

Ofoyeju said the arrest sends a strong signal to drug traffickers that Edo State is not a safe haven for illicit activities.

“This seizure, which is over seven metric tonnes of cannabis, highlights the scale of the threat we are tackling and underscores the effectiveness of our intelligence-driven operations,” he said.

He added that the operation aligns with the directive of the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), to intensify efforts at dismantling drug trafficking networks across the country.

“Our mandate is to apprehend traffickers, seize illicit drugs and trace proceeds of crime. This operation has prevented these substances from reaching the streets and endangering lives, particularly those of young people,” he added.