NDLEA destroys illicit drugs worth N2.8bn in Edo

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has destroyed 73,463.21 kilogrammes of illicit drugs worth N2.8 billion in Edo State.

DAILY POST reports that the narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances were destroyed on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at Idogbo in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the state.

The substances were destroyed by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa, a representative of Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, heads of various security agencies in the state, among others.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Mitchell Ofoyeju, Commander of the Edo State Command of the anti-drug agency, said the public destruction of the illicit drugs followed an order of the Federal High Court, Benin City.

Ofoyeju gave the breakdown of the destroyed exhibits, with an estimated street value of N2.8 billion, to include 73,210.23 kilogrammes of Cannabis sativa and 246.36 kilogrammes of psychotropic substances, including Tramadol (141.81kg), Diazepam (8.4258kg), and Codeine cough syrup (61.7652kg).

Others were 2.662 kilogrammes of methamphetamine, 3.7441 kilogrammes of cocaine, and 0.2168 kilogrammes of heroin.

He said that during operations leading to the seizures, the command intercepted cars and articulated trucks laden with drugs.

“We have identified and destroyed cannabis farms as well as illicit drug warehouses. We have apprehended both the young and the old, male and female, and have even recovered drugs hidden in shrines. We have been attacked on the line of duty with firearms, but we are not deterred from executing our mandate.

“We may give our children the good things of life, such as money, the best schools, good food and clothing, but if we fail to protect them from drug and substance abuse, we have indeed given them nothing,” he said.

He described the ceremony as a product of relentless, intelligence-led operations by the officers and men of the command.

He also added that the destruction ceremony amplified what the combined efforts of a committed government, a determined agency, and an engaged citizenry can achieve.

In his keynote address, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa described the event as a reaffirmation of the collective resolve to confront, dismantle, and defeat the menace of drug abuse.

Marwa, represented by the Director of Operations and General Investigation, Deputy Commander-General of Narcotics Ahmed Suleiman Ningi, commended the Governor Monday Okpebholo-led administration for its support, particularly the allocation of 20 plots of land for the construction of a model State Command Headquarters.

“This gesture speaks volumes about his (Governor Okpebholo’s) administration’s understanding that the war against drugs requires infrastructure, institutional capacity, and long-term investment,” he added.

He commended the officers and men of the command for their bravery, dedication, vigilance in the face of danger, willingness to work long hours under difficult conditions, and uncompromising commitment to the mandate of the agency.

“You have my deepest admiration, my unqualified respect, and the gratitude of the nation you serve,” he stated.

In his remarks, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, who was the special guest of honour, described the war against drugs as a battle against criminality.

Okpebholo, who was represented by Mrs Edesili Anani, Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady of Edo State and Chairperson of the State Drug Control Committee, opined that the ceremony was not a moment for celebration alone but also a moment for sober reflection and recommitment to the fight.

“The war on drugs is a war for the soul of our nation. It is a war against criminality, kidnapping and banditry, as well as the health hazards that drug abuse brings,” he noted.

Okpebholo, who assured the NDLEA of continued partnership, reeled off plans by his administration to provide a modern rehabilitation centre for people recovering from drug use disorders.

He, however, issued a stern warning to drug traffickers, saying: “Drug traffickers must leave Edo State because we are coming for them, and we will not relent until every gram of illicit substance is seized and destroyed.”

Also speaking, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, Senator Joseph Ikpea, commended the NDLEA for the monumental drug seizures and pledged legislative backing as well as appropriation support to ensure a better-equipped, better-funded, and better-motivated anti-narcotics agency.

Ikpea, representing Edo Central Senatorial District, posited that every kilogramme of cocaine, every bag of cannabis, and every sachet of tramadol and codeine destroyed represents lives saved from the catastrophic effects of drugs.

“Your work is dangerous and often not properly funded, yet you fill the gaps. We will continue to press for better welfare, funding, equipment, and legal backing for your operations,” he said.