Mitchell Ofoyeju, Edo State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, said on Monday that operatives of the command seized cannabis worth N724.5 million on April 11.
In a statement made available to press men on Monday, Ofoyeju said the 483 bags of drugs, worth 7245 kilogrammes, were packed into two articulated trucks used for transporting alcoholic drinks.
Ofoyeju gave the names suspects arrested in connection with the illicit consignment are as Ibrahim Abu, 29 years, Abu Abdullazeez, 28 years, Jibril Jaminu, 35 years, Andrew Moses, 22 years and Ganiyu Abu, 21 years, who are all males and indigenes of Etsako East and Etsako West Local Government Areas of Edo State.
He said, “The Edo State Command of the NDLEA has recorded a monumental operational success, with the interception of two articulated trucks laden 7,245 kilograms of skunk cannabis and the arrest of five suspected drug traffickers. The estimated street value of the drugs is N724.5 million.
“This is the first time in the history of the command that two trucks laden with illicit drugs are being intercepted at a time, thereby disrupting the inter-state drug trafficking network.”
According to him, the successful interception is a clear message to drug barons and traffickers that Edo State is not a safe haven for criminal trade, noting that the large volume of this seizure, highlights the scale of the threat the agency is combating.
He added, “A breakdown reveals the first truck, with registration number OYO LUY 172 XC, contained 260 bags weighing 3,900 kilograms. The second truck, OYO LUY 281 XC, carried 223 bags weighing 3,345 kilograms. The combined haul totalled 483 bags with a gross weight of seven thousand, two hundred and forty-five kilograms (7,245kg).
Moreso, preliminary investigation indicates the illicit shipment originated from Sabongida-Ora in Owan West LGA and was destined for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, before the interception. The colossal damage it would have caused to the FCT and entire north central, save for our intervention, is better left unimagined.
“The trucks and exhibits have been moved to the command headquarters in Benin City for further documentation and investigation, which has commenced in earnest. However, both trucks will be confiscated as instrumentality of drug crime.
Ofoyeju reaffirmed that the operation aligns with the strategic mandate and zero-tolerance directive set by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd)
