Operatives of the Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have intercepted 740.02 kilograms of illicit drugs and arrested two suspects.
DAILY POST reports that Mitchell Ofoyeju, the Edo State Commander of NDLEA, disclosed this on Monday, April 27, 2026, while presenting the latest operational breakthrough to newsmen in Benin City.
Ofoyeju said the large shipment of controlled pharmaceutical drugs, including tramadol, was intercepted on the Benin-Lagos Expressway during a routine motorised patrol by personnel of the agency.
He gave the names of the suspects arrested in connection with the drugs as Osagie Igbinibo (43) and Omijie Malik (44).
He said the suspects are currently in custody, investigations are ongoing, and they will be charged in court soon.
He explained that the illicit drugs were intercepted on Thursday, April 23, 2026, as part of the command’s ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking.
Ofoyeju said the efforts culminated in the interception of a Mercedes-Benz truck branded with the Nigeria Labour Congress insignia and bearing the registration number Federal Capital Territory NLC 146 FC.
The Edo State NDLEA commander added that the truck was found with 1,196,000 capsules and tablets of psychotropic substances en route from Lagos to Onitsha, Anambra State.
“The intercepted truck was found to be transporting an alarming total of 748.02 kilograms of controlled substances.
“The seizure included 23 cartons of tramadol 100 mg and 440,000 capsules (264 kg); tramadol 50 mg, 40 cartons, 600,000 capsules (180 kg); Rohypnol, 7 cartons, 84,000 tablets (25.2 kg); diazepam injection, 19 cartons, 76,000 ampoules (242.82 kg); bromazepam, 6 cartons, 72,000 tablets (36 kg), totalling 748.2 kilograms.
“The truck was intercepted during a routine motorised patrol, underscoring the commitment of the NDLEA to disrupt drug trafficking networks threatening public health and safety.
“The operation is a positive result of the tasking order by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), to take proactive measures in preventing inter-state drug trafficking in the country,” he said.
While expressing grave concern over the potential impact of such drug shipments on communities, he opined that the trafficking of high volumes of controlled drugs, particularly potent opioids like tramadol, poses a dire threat to youth and society at large.
He said the substances are linked to addiction, health emergencies, and even fatalities.
He stated that the agency remains vigilant in its mission to eradicate drug abuse and trafficking, vowing that traffickers must understand that the long arm of the law will catch up with them.
The NDLEA commander encouraged members of the public to report any suspicious activities related to drug trafficking and usage, pledging collaboration with stakeholders, including community leaders, families, and individuals.
