During July 2026, the Edo State branch of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency apprehended 49 individuals suspected of drug trafficking. Dr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, the state commandant, revealed these statistics on Thursday in Benin City while promoting 73 agency staff members.
Of the detainees, 29 are female and 20 are male. Dr. Ofoyeju noted the rising number of women caught in illicit drug activities, attributing this trend to changing socio-economic pressures and weakened family structures. Authorities raided three storage facilities, two located in Benin City and one in Illushi. Two vehicles, a Toyota Sienna and a Toyota Camry, were also impounded during these operations.
Seized contraband included 2,588.4 kilograms of cannabis, 6.13 kilograms of psychotropic substances, and smaller amounts of cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine. Officers also confiscated 15.3 litres of codeine syrup and 10 canisters of nitrous oxide. Furthermore, the agency successfully cleared a cannabis cultivation site within the Egbisi forest in the Orhionmwon Local Government Area.
The command achieved four court convictions throughout the month. Additionally, officials provided support and rehabilitation to 24 individuals struggling with substance dependency, ultimately reuniting them with their families. Dr. Ofoyeju emphasized that this combination of legal enforcement and rehabilitation efforts remains central to the agency’s strategy in Edo State.
