The Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a couple for allegedly operating a drug warehouse in Benin City, recovering large quantities of illicit substances during a raid on the facility.
The Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, saying operatives carried out the operation after receiving credible intelligence about suspected drug trafficking activities at a warehouse located in a residential area along Sapele Road in Benin City.
According to Ofoyeju, the agency arrested the main suspects, Christian Chukwuka, 32, and his wife, Nwanneka Christian, 33, both natives of Ndokwa in Delta State, during the raid.
He said the operation led to the recovery of 22 bags of skunk weighing 219.5 kilogrammes and compressed blocks of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of synthetic cannabis, weighing 192.67 kilogrammes.
Ofoyeju described the seizure as one of the largest drug busts recorded in Edo State, adding that it underscored the growing challenge of drug trafficking and illegal drug distribution in the state.
He said the successful operation was made possible through actionable intelligence, which enabled NDLEA operatives to locate and dismantle the alleged illicit storage facility.
The commander reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to combating drug trafficking, noting that investigations were ongoing and that the suspects would be charged in court after the conclusion of investigations.
“Our efforts to combat drug trafficking remain unwavering. We will thoroughly investigate this case and ensure that justice is served,” he said.
One of the suspects, Christian Chukwuka, blamed his involvement in drug trafficking on poverty and unemployment.
According to him, he completed secondary school and trained as a truck driver but turned to the illegal drug trade after struggling to secure employment.
He also said the responsibility of providing for his wife and their set of twins pushed him into the illicit business, expressing remorse and promising to abandon drug trafficking if given another opportunity.
