Operatives of the Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have destroyed several cannabis farms and seized large quantities of illicit drugs during coordinated forest operations across the state.
The Edo State Commander of the agency, Dr Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this during a briefing in Benin City, saying the operations were carried out based on credible intelligence gathered by the agency.
Ofoyeju said operatives discovered three cannabis farms inside Etiosa Forest in Owan West Local Government Area. He said the farms measured 0.145 hectares, 0.203 hectares and 0.158 hectares respectively.
He added that a total of 1,956.92 kilogrammes of cannabis were recovered during the operation, while 0.508 hectares of cultivated farmland with an estimated yield of 1,266.85 kilogrammes were destroyed. Authorities also recovered 23 kilogrammes of processed cannabis from the site.
Two suspects were arrested during the raid — a 68 year old woman, Evelyn Ogenewu, and a 43 year old man, Friday Iruoje. The commander said 8 kilogrammes of cannabis were recovered from Iruoje while 15 kilogrammes were found in Ogenewu’s possession.
“The operation demonstrates our ongoing commitment to eradicating illegal cannabis cultivation and trafficking across the state. We will continue to act on credible intelligence and take swift action against those involved in drug related activities,” he said.
In another operation, NDLEA operatives intercepted 563.5 kilogrammes of skunk cannabis at a Yoruba Camp in Olumoye Forest, Ovia North East Local Government Area, leading to the arrest of five suspects identified as Murtala Mohammed, Abdulkadir Idris, Ufoma Edafe, Anthony Aghati and Emmanuel Owalu.
In a separate raid at Otuo Forest in Owan East Local Government Area, officers discovered eight bags and 60 compressed blocks of skunk cannabis hidden inside a cocoa plantation, weighing 103.57 kilogrammes. No arrests were made at that location, but investigations are ongoing.
The commander urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies while assuring that all arrested suspects would be prosecuted under the NDLEA Act.
