Festive Season Clampdown: NDLEA intercepts 457kg cannabis in Edo

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Edo State have arrested a suspected drug dealer and recovered a large consignment of skunk cannabis during a raid in Uroe community, Owan East Local Government Area.

The Edo State Commander of the agency, Mitchell Ofoyeju, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Monday, stating that the operation was carried out on 9 December 2025 following actionable intelligence.

According to him, the suspect, identified as 44-year-old Ohiomah Igbafe, was apprehended at a warehouse where the illicit drugs were allegedly stored. Recovered from the premises were 15 bags of cannabis sativa with a combined weight of 457 kilogrammes, as well as a separate sack containing four kilogrammes of cannabis seeds.

Ofoyeju described the seizure as a major breakthrough in the command’s campaign against organised drug trafficking in the state, noting that the volume of drugs intercepted posed a grave risk to public health.

He explained that preliminary findings showed that 12 of the bags weighed 427 kilogrammes, while the remaining three accounted for 30 kilogrammes. The discovery at the suspect’s hideout, he said, has led to expanded investigations aimed at identifying other members of the trafficking network.

The commander warned that Edo State would remain hostile terrain for drug traffickers, stressing that the agency would not relent in enforcing the law.

“No trafficker or collaborator should harbour the illusion that they can operate undetected. The NDLEA will continue to pursue, arrest and prosecute offenders in accordance with the law,” he said.

During interrogation, the suspect reportedly admitted involvement in the illegal trade, attributing his actions to personal and financial challenges. He claimed to have entered cannabis cultivation two years ago after being introduced to the business, citing his responsibility as the sole provider for his family.

He appealed for leniency, stating that his aged mother is visually impaired, his brother is paralysed, and his wife and six children depend solely on him for survival.

The NDLEA said the suspect and the seized drugs have been taken into custody, while investigations continue.

Ofoyeju added that the operation formed part of the agency’s pre-Yuletide strategies to curb the circulation of illicit drugs during the festive season. He disclosed that two vehicles were also confiscated during related operations, describing the outcomes as significant gains in the fight against narcotics in the state.