Ayomide Ade
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested three suspected drug dealers and recovered illicit substances during a raid on a notorious drug hotspot along Ihama Road, GRA, Benin City, Edo State.
The operation, conducted by operatives of the agency’s Edo State Command, also forced suspected drug traffickers, peddlers and commercial sex workers to abandon the area following the deployment of security personnel for round-the-clock patrols and stop-and-search operations.
The agency said the notorious location had become a haven for drug-related activities, with young men allegedly selling illicit substances openly to motorists, while some individuals reportedly battled substance addiction.
Among those arrested was 26-year-old Omoreghan Paul, who was allegedly found in possession of 3.17 grammes of Cannabis Loud, a potent form of synthetic cannabis.
Two other suspects, identified as Omoruyi Osarobo, from Orhionmwon Local Government Area, and Obed Osagie, from Uhunmwonde Local Government Area, were reportedly arrested with six cylinders of nitrous oxide, popularly known as laughing gas.
The NDLEA said the raid was part of an intensified crackdown on drug trafficking, distribution and substance abuse across the state.
The Edo State Commander of the agency, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed that the operation was carried out in line with a directive by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), to dismantle drug networks and flush out individuals allegedly providing cover for illicit drug activities.
Ofoyeju said the deployment of a patrol team for 24-hour surveillance had significantly disrupted activities around the hotspot, forcing suspected offenders to flee.
He, however, warned that the command would not relent in its efforts to prevent drug dealers from returning to the area.
“The directive of the Chairman to flush out drug peddlers and commercial sex workers who give cover to illicit drug activities has yielded positive results, but this operation will be intensified and sustained.
“No stone will be left unturned in ensuring a drug-free Edo State,” Ofoyeju said.
The commander assured residents that the agency would sustain the operation, insisting that there would be no hiding place for drug traffickers and dealers in the state.
He also solicited the cooperation of residents, community leaders and other stakeholders in the fight against illicit drugs, stressing that tackling substance abuse required collective efforts.
The NDLEA reiterated its commitment to ridding Edo State of illicit substances and dismantling locations being used for drug distribution and other related criminal activities
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