Five suspects were arrested after raids in Owan West and Benin City, while an illicit drug warehouse in Ekpoma yielded hundreds of bottles and tablets

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Edo State Command, led by Commander Mitchell Ofoyeju, arrested five suspects and destroyed a 0.496-hectare cannabis plantation during operations across Edo State on August 18 and 19, 2026, as the agency intensified its campaign against illicit drug cultivation and trafficking.

Also read: NDLEA Seizes 604.5kg Cannabis in Edo Drug Raid

The operations, which stretched from the forest areas of Owan West to Ekpoma and Benin City, also uncovered an illicit drug warehouse containing hundreds of bottles and tablets of controlled substances.

On August 18, NDLEA operatives from the state headquarters stormed a cannabis sativa plantation in Ukaro Forest, Owan West Local Government Area, where officers arrested Imohimi Ugbeje, 50, Usihoro Saturday, 27, and Bala Sunday, 23.

The farm covered approximately 0.496 hectares and had an estimated yield of 1,240.9 kilogrammes of cannabis. Operatives destroyed the plantation and recovered cannabis plant stems and half a bag of processed cannabis weighing 5.5 kilogrammes.

The latest operation came barely days after the Edo Command announced the destruction of two other cannabis plantations estimated to contain 4,628.9 kilogrammes of the illicit crop, alongside the arrest of 10 suspected drug traffickers.

Those earlier operations were carried out at Ugboku in the Igbanke Forest and at drug flashpoints in Benin City. (Punch Newspapers)

The command has also been drawing attention to the wider security implications of cannabis cultivation in the state.

Earlier in August, Ofoyeju described cannabis farming as a catalyst for problems including kidnapping, cultism, arms proliferation and youth exploitation, warning that some forest areas had increasingly been converted into illicit plantations. (PM News Nigeria)

The enforcement effort continued on August 19, when operatives raided an illicit drug warehouse at Ihumudumu in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area.

The operation yielded 319 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup, 1,340 capsules of tramadol, 344 tablets of Rohypnol and 222 tablets of Danabol. No arrest was made at the warehouse, but the command said efforts were underway to locate the suspected owner.

Later that day in Benin City, officers arrested Zege Japhet, 29, and Ifeanyi Ogashe, 43, over alleged possession of 290 grammes of Canadian Loud, a high-potency cannabis strain.

Japhet was allegedly found with 185 grammes, while Ogashe had 105 grammes.

The seizure adds to a wider national enforcement drive against Canadian Loud. In May, the NDLEA announced the interception of 4,173.5 kilogrammes of the substance at Tin Can Island Port in Lagos, describing it as a high-potency strain of cannabis with a street value estimated at more than N10.4 billion. (NDLEA)

Ofoyeju said the latest operations demonstrated the command’s determination to disrupt both the supply and distribution of illicit drugs in Edo.

“These arrests reflect the agency’s ongoing efforts to curb drug trafficking within the state and protect the community from the dangers of substance abuse,” he said.

Beyond enforcement, the commander has also emphasised prevention, particularly among young people.

Ofoyeju made the point at the Scout Association of Nigeria’s inaugural National Youth Camp in Benin City, held under the theme, “Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development: Building a Peaceful and Prosperous Future.”

The camp brought together young participants from Ogun, Oyo, Kogi and Delta states, providing a setting for learning, collaboration and youth development.

Ofoyeju said meaningful youth empowerment required more than education, arguing that young people also needed practical skills, support and reliable information to make responsible decisions.

He urged young Nigerians to pursue constructive activities and understand the risks associated with drug misuse, while encouraging them to participate in community programmes that promote health and wellbeing.

The NDLEA has increasingly paired drug supply reduction with public awareness campaigns.

The agency’s recent national operations have included large seizures of cannabis and tramadol, while its War Against Drug Abuse programme has continued with sensitisation activities in schools and communities. (Channels Television)

For Edo, the combination of forest raids, urban drug-point operations and youth-focused advocacy reflects a broader strategy aimed at tackling the problem from both ends: disrupting access to illicit substances while discouraging young people from becoming users or participants in the drug trade.

Ofoyeju urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities linked to drug trafficking and abuse.

Also read: NDLEA Seizes Over 2 Billion Tramadol Pills in 18 Months

With investigations continuing into the Ekpoma warehouse and the arrested suspects facing further legal proceedings, the NDLEA said it would sustain its campaign against drug-related crime while supporting efforts to build a healthier and more empowered generation.