NDLEA uncovers suspected drug warehouse, arrests couple in Edo

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in Edo State have uncovered a suspected drug warehouse in Benin City, leading to the arrest of a husband and wife allegedly involved in the storage and distribution of illicit substances.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by the Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju.

According to Ofoyeju, the operation was carried out at a residential building along Sapele Road following credible intelligence on the alleged drug trafficking activities of the occupants.

The suspects, identified as Christian Chukwuka, 32, and his wife, Nwanneka Christian, 33, both natives of Ndokwa, Delta State, were apprehended during the raid.

The NDLEA said officers recovered 22 bags of skunk cannabis weighing 219.5 kilograms, as well as compressed blocks of Canadian Loud, a highly potent synthetic cannabis strain, weighing 192.67 kilograms. The total quantity of drugs seized during the operation was 412.17 kilograms.

Ofoyeju described the operation as another major breakthrough in the agency’s campaign against drug trafficking and substance abuse in the state.

“Our efforts to combat drug trafficking remain unwavering. We will thoroughly investigate this case and ensure that justice is served,” he said.

Speaking after his arrest, one of the suspects, Christian Chukwuka, attributed his alleged involvement in the illicit trade to financial hardship and unemployment.

“I am a secondary school graduate and a truck driver, but joblessness made a friend introduce me to drug trafficking. My wife and I have twins to cater for, and the financial pressure was too much. If given another chance, I will not go back to drugs,” he said.

The NDLEA commander disclosed that investigations are ongoing, adding that the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of the probe.

He also described the seizure as one of the agency’s most significant drug interceptions in Edo State this year and reaffirmed the NDLEA’s commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks and safeguarding communities from the dangers of illicit narcotics.