The Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has seized 53,520.80kg of assorted illicit drugs worth over N777 million in the first half of 2025.
The state commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this on Monday in Benin during a media briefing to mark the 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Ofoyeju, a commander of narcotics, revealed that operatives arrested 28-year-old Esther Abumere, a 300-level student of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, for drug peddling. The suspect allegedly ran a supermarket in Ekpoma as a front for her illicit drug trade.
“Her arrest is a strong warning to drug barons that, notwithstanding the disguise, they will be smoked out,” Ofoyeju stated. “We have a responsibility under the law to protect every citizen through comprehensive drug supply control and prevention interventions.”
Among the drugs recovered from Abumere were 31g of Colorado (a potent synthetic cannabis variant), 763g of Canadian Loud (another high-grade cannabis strain), Tramadol capsules, 146 tablets of Swinol (56g), 93 tablets of Rohypnol (30g), and 56 tablets of Molly (25g).
During interrogation, Abumere claimed she ventured into drug trafficking to repay a loan obtained from a microfinance bank.
In addition to the seizure, the NDLEA destroyed 18 cannabis farms across Edo State and secured 24 convictions within the same period. The command also provided brief counselling for 194 individuals and rehabilitated 19 drug-dependent persons.
Ofoyeju urged the public to support the agency by reporting suspicious drug-related activities, linking crimes such as cultism and kidnapping to drug abuse.
“These enemies of the state can run but cannot hide,” he declared. “We will catch them, seize their drugs, trace their illicit wealth, and prosecute them.”
The commander reaffirmed the NDLEA’s commitment to combating drug trafficking and abuse while calling for sustained collaboration from stakeholders to ensure a drug-free society.
