Five suspected drug dealers, including a patent medicine vendor and a supermarket owner, have been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Edo State Command, in a joint intelligence-led operation with the Nigerian Army in Benin City, Edo State.
The Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this in a press statement issued on Tuesday in Benin, revealing that the suspects were apprehended during coordinated raids on identified drug hotspots across the state capital.
According to the commander, the operation led to the arrest of Akam Theophilus (46), a patent medicine vendor; Ashitor Godfrey (25), a supermarket owner; as well as Asemota Endurance (23), Franklin Kijie (25), and Smart Ekhaitor (39).
Ofoyeju explained that the suspects were arrested at strategic locations in Benin City, including a patent medicine shop near the Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport (S&T) Barracks, a supermarket opposite Ekenwan Barracks, and the Obagie area off Sapele Road.
He further disclosed that a large cache of illicit drugs was recovered during the operation, including 11,297 capsules of tramadol, 400 tablets of diazepam, 108 tablets of Swinol, 22 tablets of Danabol, also known as “Molly”, 3.685 kilogrammes of cannabis, 181 grammes of Loud, seven grammes of methamphetamine, and 10 bottles of codeine cough syrup.
Speaking on the arrests, the NDLEA commander said the operation was in line with the directive of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), to rid Edo State of drug criminals.
“I have been mandated by the Chairman to take drug criminals out of Edo State. Drugs are a catalyst for crime.
“Anyone hiding under the canopy of a patent medicine shop or a supermarket to peddle tramadol, Swinol, diazepam, codeine cough syrup and cannabis will not go unpunished,” he said.
Ofoyeju added that the arrest of the suspects sends a strong signal that there is no safe haven for drug dealers anywhere in Edo State.
On their part, the Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport, Major General M. Hassan, and the Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Army 4 Brigade, Brigadier General A. O. Balogun, reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to supporting the NDLEA. They warned that there would be no hiding place for drug traffickers, particularly around military formations.
