The Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said that it arrested a total of two hundred and sixty-two (262) suspected drug traffickers and seized 15,253.82kg of narcotics including cannabis, cocaine, heroin and tramadol the previous year.
Those arrested are one hundred and eighty males and eighty-two females.
10 vehicles used in smuggling illicit drugs were equally impounded within the period under review. Fifteen cannabis plantations measuring 11.82 hectares were identified and destroyed.
In addition, eighty-six drug dependent persons were successfully counselled and reunited with their families. However, eight (8) drug traffickers were convicted while two hundred and twenty (220) cases were pending at the Federal High Court as at December 31,2020.
Commenting on the above operational scorecard in Benin City, the State Commander, Mr. Buba Wakawa said that the command recorded the achievement despite the Covid 19 lockdown and the End-SARS protest that led to the destruction of the State Command headquarters.
The commander added that various modes of drug concealment adopted by drug barons include use of silos, underground tunnels, cannabis warehouses as well as false compartments in trucks, buses and cars.
Buba however thanked Governor Godwin Obaseki for his prompt response in providing a temporary accommodation for the Command following the destruction of the State Command headquarters in Benin City during the End-SARS protest in October last year.
He expressed optimism that the command will perform better in reducing the problem of drug trafficking and abuse in the State this new year.
