NDLEA cracks 48 drug dealers, secures six convictions in Edo

By Jethro Ibileke

No fewer than 48 suspected cannabis dealers were arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in Edo state, in the month of October 2022.

The State Commander of NDLEA, Buba Wakawa, who disclosed this on Monday in Benin, the State capital, during an interview with journalists, added that the command also secured the conviction of six other offenders.

He disclosed that the agency destroyed 10 farm lands of cannabis measuring 8.236067 hectares in the state, even as it seized 7,379.5901 kilograms of cannabis sativa and other psychotropic substances such as cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, codeine-based syrup within the period under review.

According to him, “We arrested 48 suspects, and secured the conviction of six other drug traffickers.

“Among the arrested suspects are 39 male and nine female.

“Also, we intercepted three vehicles and one motor bike used in conveying the illicit drugs,” he added.

Wakawa, who commended the people of the state for supporting the agency, appealed for more intelligence report on activities of drug merchants in the state.

He disclosed that the charge by the Chairman of the agency, Buba Marwa, was to rid the nation of drug abuse and trafficking, which he said “is a mandate that must be achieved”.