The Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted two trucks conveying a massive consignment of skunk cannabis weighing 7,245 kilograms and valued at about ₦724.5 million, arresting five suspected traffickers.
The State Commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Benin City on Monday.
Ofoyeju explained that the operation was driven by credible intelligence, leading operatives to intercept the trucks along the Auchi-Abuja Road.
According to him, the vehicles were disguised as carriers of legitimate goods but were eventually uncovered to be transporting illicit substances.
“The agency, working on intelligence, intercepted the two articulated trucks along the Auchi-Abuja Road axis and on search, the trucks, carrying cartons of beer, were found to be cleverly concealing hundreds of bags of processed weeds,” he said.
He added, “A field test confirmed the substance to be skunk cannabis, a highly potent and dangerous variant.”
The NDLEA boss identified the suspects as Ibrahim Abu, 29; Abu Abdullazeez, 28; Jibril Jaminu, 35; Andrew Moses, 22; and Ganiyu Abu, 21.
He noted that preliminary investigations revealed that the consignment originated from Sabongida-Ora in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State and was being transported to Abuja before it was intercepted.
Providing a breakdown of the seized drugs, Ofoyeju said the first truck, with registration number OYO LUY 172 XC, contained 260 bags of cannabis 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),” he stated.
The commander disclosed that both trucks used in conveying the drugs would be confiscated as instrumentalities of drug crime.
He assured that the agency had commenced a thorough investigation aimed at dismantling the network behind the large-scale trafficking and prosecuting all those involved.
Ofoyeju stressed that the interception had saved many lives by preventing the illicit substances from getting into circulation, especially among young people.
“This successful interception is a clear message to drug barons and traffickers that Edo State is not a safe haven for criminal trade,” he said.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intensifying the fight against drug trafficking and abuse across the state.