The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA) says it has seized illicit drugs valued at N1.8 billion in Edo State between January and March, 2026.
Mitchell Ofoyeju, the NDLEA Commander in the State disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing the press on the achievements of the Command in the first quarter of the year.
Ofoyeju said the Command seized a total of 18, 380kilograms illicit drugs and arrested no fewer than 104 suspects within the period.
He said cannabis weighing 18,293 kilograms, is the highest amount of narcotics seized within the period.
He gave the breakdown of other illicit drugs and their kilograms to include Psychotropic 6.01kg, methamphetamine 0.188 kg, Cocaine 0.023kg, heroin 0.0151kg and codeine cough syrup 81.4 litres.
Ofoyeju also gave a breakdown of the arrested suspects in the period under review as 71 males and 33 females.
He also disclosed that the Command secured the convictions of 36 suspects at the Federal High Court, Benin City.
He said the convicts were 32 males and four females.
Ofoyeju added that 10 cannabis farms measuring 5,02260 hectares were also destroyed.
“The Command also intensified anti-drug abuse education with a total of 26 programmes to highlight the dangers of drug trafficking and abuse.
“Twenty-eight drug-dependent clients were rehabilitated, while 66 others received counselling and were reunited with their families”, he said.
The Edo State NDLEA boss, who noted that the achievements were recorded during various intelligence-led raid operations, added that it was geared towards eradicating drug-related crimes and promoting a drug-free society.
He, however, officially launched the maiden edition of the NDLEA Edo State Command’s magazine, which he noted was aimed at documenting the Command’s activities, sharing success stories, and educating the public on the dangers of illicit drug use.
The Command also honoured some officers for their outstanding performance, media partners and legal aid professionals in advancing the fight against narcotics in 2025.
The award recipients are 10 officers of the Command, four journalists and one legal aid lawyer
Ofoyeju stated that awards are instituted to motivate officers and strengthen partnerships critical to the agency’s success.
“Today, we celebrate dedication, resourcefulness, and fruitful collaboration. The award recipients embody our collective resolve to secure a drug-free society”, he added.
He said the award is a hallmark of the culture of the NDLEA, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Mohammed Buba Marwa.
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