The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has destroyed narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances valued at about ₦2.8bn in Benin City, Edo State, in a sweeping operation aimed at tightening its crackdown on illicit drug trafficking across the country.
The destruction exercise, held on Thursday, saw a total of 73,463.21 kilogrammes of seized drugs set ablaze, according to official figures released by the agency. The NDLEA said the action reflects standard procedure for eliminating confiscated narcotics after legal clearance and documentation. NDLEA Official Statement
Cannabis sativa accounted for the bulk of the seizures, weighing 73,210.23 kilogrammes, while psychotropic substances made up 246.36 kilogrammes. These included tramadol (141.81 kg), diazepam (8.43 kg), and codeine syrup (61.77 kg).
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Other destroyed substances included methamphetamine (2.66 kg), cocaine (3.74 kg), and heroin (0.21 kg), underscoring the breadth of narcotics circulating within illicit networks in the state.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described the exercise as part of sustained efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks and reduce substance abuse across Nigeria. NDLEA Official Statement
Represented by the Director of Operations and General Investigation, Suleiman Ahmed Ningi, Marwa said the destruction of seized drugs symbolized the agency’s determination to deny criminal cartels any opportunity to reintroduce confiscated substances into circulation.
“What we are gathered here to do transcends the physical act of burning contraband. We are, in the most powerful terms, reaffirming our collective and unshakeable resolve to confront, dismantle, and ultimately defeat the menace of drug abuse,” he said.
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, who was represented by the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady and Chairperson of the State Drug Control Committee, Edesili Anani, described drug abuse as a growing threat to security and public health in the state.
He pledged continued collaboration with the NDLEA and reiterated plans to establish a rehabilitation center for drug users.
Senator representing Edo Central and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, Joseph Ikpea, commended the agency for its sustained enforcement operations, promising legislative backing to strengthen its mandate.
Edo State NDLEA Commander, Commander of Narcotics Mitchell Ofoyeju, said operatives had intercepted consignments concealed in vehicles, trucks, and unconventional locations, including shrines, noting that officers had faced armed resistance in the course of duty.
He urged parents and guardians to pay closer attention to their children, warning that early exposure to drugs remains a major driver of addiction and criminal behavior among youths.
The exercise comes amid heightened NDLEA enforcement operations nationwide, as the agency intensifies efforts to disrupt drug supply chains and curb rising substance abuse cases across communities.
