By Tonye Apiri
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Edo State, working alongside personnel of the Nigerian Army, have intercepted a large consignment of illegal drugs during a coordinated operation in the state.
The Edo State Commandant of the NDLEA, Dr. Mitchell Ofoyefu, disclosed this in a statement released to journalists on Monday in Benin City.
According to Ofoyefu, the team swooped on a notorious narcotics den in Ewe Luleha community, Owan West Local Government Area. During the raid carried out on August 5, 2026, officers recovered 65 bags of substances that tested positive for skunk cannabis. The total weight of the seizure was put at 604.5 kilogrammes.
The commandant said the operation targeted a major distribution point used by traffickers in the area, and that the haul represents one of the significant seizures in the state this year.
He confirmed that a manhunt has been launched for the suspected mastermind of the syndicate, who fled the scene during the raid.
“We are tracking the suspected drug kingpin, one Sunday, who is in hiding following the operation. He has nowhere to hide because we will certainly apprehend him,” Ofoyefu said.
The NDLEA said investigations are ongoing to identify other members of the network and to trace the sources and intended destinations of the seized drugs. Authorities added that efforts will be intensified to dismantle other criminal hideouts across Edo, particularly in border and rural communities where illicit cultivation and trafficking have persisted.
Skunk cannabis, a high-potency variant of the drug, has been linked to rising cases of abuse and related crimes in parts of the South-South. The agency reiterated its commitment to working with other security agencies to disrupt supply chains and prosecute those behind the trade.