NDLEA ‌‍‍‌‍⁠⁠‍‍‌⁠⁠‌‌arrests 75 suspects, uncovers 16.8 tonnes of illicit medication in Edo

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Edo Command, Monday mentioned it arrested 75 suspected drug traffickers in reference to 16.8 tonnes of illicit substances seized and destroyed in October.

The state commander, Dr Mitchell Ofoyeju, said this in Benin. He mentioned the suspects comprised 54 males and 21 females.

He said additional that the command seized 2,496.12 kilograms of illicit substances and destroyed hashish weighing 14,322.05 kilograms from eight farms protecting 5.73 hectares.

Other substances seized included 3.22kg of psychotropic substances, 0.20kg of methamphetamine, 35 cylinders of nitrous oxide, six cups of hashish brownies and 4.1 litres of codeine syrup.

Ofoyeju mentioned the statistics have been launched because the NDLEA chairman, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retired), charged the command to accentuate operations towards drug cartels within the state.

Marwa gave the cost throughout an official go to to the command final week, urging officers to maintain intelligence-led operations and dismantle trafficking networks.

Ofoyeju described the go to as a morale booster, saying it had strengthened the command’s resolve to accentuate the combat towards drug trafficking.

One of the key seizures in the course of the interval, he mentioned, concerned a black Toyota Camry intercepted at Otuo, Owan East native authorities space, conveying 1,049 compressed blocks of hashish weighing 702.83kg.

He mentioned three suspects have been arrested in reference to the seizure.

Ofoyeju mentioned the destroyed hashish farms have been positioned in Uzebba Forest, Ukhuise-Osi neighborhood and Ugbada Forest in Owan West; Ugboshi Ele Forest in Akoko-Edo; and Eco Camp, Illushi, in Esan South East.

On prosecution, he mentioned the command secured six convictions and filed 14 circumstances in courtroom, whereas 103 circumstances remained pending.

He added that the command’s Counselling, Treatment and Rehabilitation Unit counselled 47 purchasers, comprising 33 males and 14 females, who have been subsequently launched to their households. (NAN)