Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a husband and wife for allegedly operating an illicit drug warehouse in Benin City, Edo State, recovering more than 412 kilogrammes of suspected narcotics during a raid described as one of the state’s biggest drug seizures in recent times.
The Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed the development on Monday, saying the operation followed credible intelligence on suspected drug trafficking activities at a residential property along Sapele Road in Benin City.
According to Ofoyeju, the suspects, Christian Chukwuka, 32, and his wife, Nwanneka Christian, 33, were arrested at the warehouse, where operatives uncovered large quantities of illicit drugs allegedly prepared for distribution.
He said the couple, both from Ndokwa in Delta State, allegedly used the residential property as a storage facility for narcotics, highlighting the growing use of residential neighbourhoods for illegal drug operations.
During the raid, NDLEA officers recovered 22 bags of skunk weighing 219.5 kilogrammes and compressed blocks of Canadian Loud weighing 192.67 kilogrammes.
The combined seizure amounts to 412.17 kilogrammes of suspected illicit drugs.
Ofoyeju described the operation as a major breakthrough in the agency’s ongoing crackdown on drug trafficking in Edo State, adding that investigations are continuing to identify other members of the suspected distribution network.
He said the suspects would be charged in court after investigations are concluded.
The NDLEA has continued to intensify intelligence-driven operations across the country as part of efforts to dismantle drug trafficking syndicates and reduce the circulation of illicit substances.
Speaking after his arrest, Christian Chukwuka attributed his involvement in drug trafficking to unemployment and financial hardship.
He said he trained as a truck driver after secondary school but was introduced to the illegal trade by a friend due to the lack of job opportunities.
The suspect also said the responsibility of caring for his family contributed to his decision, expressing regret and promising to abandon the illicit business if given another opportunity.
