BENIN CITY: The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Edo Command, has destroyed cannabis farms and seized nearly two tonnes of illicit drugs in coordinated raids across forest communities in the state.

The Commander of the NDLEA in Edo, Dr Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this on Tuesday in Benin while briefing journalists on the command’s recent operations.

Ofoyeju said operatives, acting on credible intelligence, uncovered three cannabis farms in Etiosa Forest, Owan West Local Government Area, measuring 0.145, 0.203 and 0.158 hectares.

According to him, a total of 1,956.92kg of cannabis was intercepted during the operations, while 0.508 hectares of cultivated farmland with an estimated yield of 1,266.85kg was destroyed.

The operatives also recovered 23kg of processed cannabis at the site.

Two suspects, a 68-year-old woman, Evelyn Ogenewu, and a 43-year-old man, Friday Iruoje were arrested at the location. Eight kilogrammes of cannabis were allegedly recovered from Iruoje and 15kg from Ogenewu.

“The operation demonstrates our ongoing commitment to eradicating illegal cannabis cultivation and trafficking across the state. We will continue to act on credible intelligence and take swift action against those involved in drug-related activities,” Ofoyeju said.

In a related raid, operatives seized 563.5kg of skunk cannabis at a Yoruba Camp in Olumoye Forest, Ovia North East Local Government Area, arresting five suspects: Murtala Mohammed, 37; Abdulkadir Idris, 29; Ufoma Edafe, 40; Anthony Aghati, 46; and Emmanuel Owalu, 39.

In a separate operation at Otuo Forest in Owan East Local Government Area, officers discovered eight bags and 60 compressed blocks of skunk cannabis concealed in a cocoa plantation, weighing 103.57kg. No arrests were made at that site, but investigations are ongoing.

The commander urged residents to remain vigilant and support enforcement efforts, assuring that all suspects would be prosecuted in line with the NDLEA Act.