Operatives of the Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a massive 7,245 kilograms of skunk cannabis, valued at N724.5 million, concealed inside cartons of beer along the Auchi-Abuja Road axis in Edo State. The seizure, described as a historic achievement for the command, took place on Saturday, April 11, 2026, following a 72-hour intelligence-driven operation. Five suspects were arrested in connection with the drug trafficking network, marking a significant blow to illicit drug movement in the region.
Mitchell Ofoyeju, the Edo State NDLEA Commander, disclosed the details during a press briefing in Benin City on Monday, April 13, 2026. He confirmed that the drugs were discovered in two articulated trucks, registered as LUY 172 XC and LUY 281 XC, both from Oyo State. The trucks were found to contain 260 bags weighing 3,900 kilograms and 223 bags weighing 483 kilograms, respectively, bringing the total to 7,245kg. A field test confirmed the substance as skunk cannabis, a highly potent and dangerous variant known for its severe health and social impacts.
The suspects, all indigenes of Etsako East and Etsako West Local Government Areas, were identified as Ibrahim Abu (29), Abu Abdullazeez (28), Jibril Jaminu (35), Andrew Moses (22), and Ganiyu Abu (21). Ofoyeju emphasized that this was the first time in the command’s history that two trucks laden with illicit drugs were intercepted simultaneously. He hailed the operation as a validation of the agency’s commitment and operational precision, stressing that it disrupted a major interstate drug trafficking network.
According to Ofoyeju, the shipment originated from Sabongida-Ora in Owan West Local Government Area and was destined for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. He warned that the potential damage to the FCT and North Central region would have been catastrophic had the drugs reached their destination. “This seizure prevents these drugs from reaching our streets and destroying countless lives, particularly our youth,” he stated, aligning the operation with the NDLEA’s zero-tolerance policy under Chairman Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd).
The trucks and all seized exhibits have been moved to the NDLEA command headquarters in Benin City for further documentation and investigation. Both vehicles will be confiscated as instrumentalities of drug crime. Ofoyeju assured the public that a thorough investigation is underway to trace the entire trafficking network and bring all accomplices to justice. He urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to aid the agency’s efforts in safeguarding communities. This landmark operation underscores the growing effectiveness of intelligence-led policing in combating drug trafficking across Nigeria.
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