Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested two suspected drug traffickers and recovered 1,359 kilograms of cannabis during separate operations in Edo State, as the agency intensified its crackdown on illicit drug activities.

The seizures were made during intelligence-led raids carried out in parts of the state, according to the NDLEA, which described the operation as another major breakthrough in its ongoing campaign against drug trafficking.

Warehouse Raid Leads to Major Drug Recovery

According to the agency, operatives stormed a warehouse in Ilushi Community, Esan South East Local Government Area, where they recovered 1,286 kilograms of cannabis alongside 86 kilograms of cannabis seeds.

The NDLEA said the warehouse was being used to store large quantities of illicit drugs before distribution to different locations.

Officials added that the operation dealt a significant blow to a suspected drug trafficking network operating within the state.

Two Suspects Apprehended in Separate Operations

In another phase of the operation, NDLEA officers arrested two suspects in connection with the recovered drugs.

The agency identified the suspects as 45-year-old Ojore Onweze, who was allegedly found with 60 kilograms of skunk, and 30-year-old George Agwumede, who was arrested with 13 kilograms of the same substance.

Both suspects are currently in custody as investigations continue to determine the full extent of their involvement in the illicit drug trade.

Agency Intensifies War Against Drug Trafficking

The latest arrests form part of a broader nationwide offensive by the NDLEA targeting drug trafficking syndicates and the distribution of illicit substances across Nigeria.

The agency said it remains committed to dismantling criminal networks involved in the cultivation, storage and movement of illegal drugs through sustained intelligence gathering and coordinated enforcement operations.

Marwa Commends Operatives

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the Edo operation and other successful raids conducted across the country.

He urged personnel to sustain the agency’s balanced approach, combining enforcement with its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign aimed at reducing substance abuse through public education and community engagement.

The NDLEA said investigations into the Edo seizures are ongoing as efforts continue to identify and apprehend other individuals connected to the illegal drug operation.