NDLEA cannabis seizure has resulted in the interception of two trucks loaded with 7,245 kilogrammes of cannabis in Edo State, with five suspects arrested following an intelligence-led operation by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is responsible for combating drug trafficking, production, and distribution across Nigeria.
The agency regularly conducts operations targeting interstate drug syndicates moving illicit substances through highways and rural routes.
Edo State has frequently been identified as a transit point for cannabis trafficking due to its location and network of inter-state road connections linking southern production areas with northern distribution routes.
Recent enforcement efforts by the agency have focused on intelligence gathering and coordinated surveillance to disrupt large-scale drug movement across the country.
The NDLEA cannabis seizure was carried out by the Edo State Command following 72 hours of surveillance and intelligence gathering, according to officials.
The operation led to the interception of two articulated trucks along the Auchi–Abuja road axis. The vehicles were reportedly loaded under the guise of transporting cartons of beer but were found to contain concealed bags of processed cannabis.
The seized substance, identified as skunk cannabis, weighed a total of 7,245 kilogrammes, with a street value estimated at ₦724.5 million.
State Commander Mitchell Ofoyeju said the first truck, with registration number OYO LUY 172 XC, contained 260 bags weighing 3,900kg, while the second truck, OYO LUY 281 XC, carried 223 bags weighing 3,345kg. The combined haul totalled 483 bags.
Five suspects were arrested in connection with the operation: Ibrahim Abu, Abu Abdullazeez, Jibril Jaminu, Andrew Moses, and Ganiyu Abu. Authorities confirmed that all suspects are indigenes of Etsako East and Etsako West Local Government Areas of Edo State.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the shipment originated from Sabongida-Ora in Owan West Local Government Area and was headed for Abuja before interception.
The trucks and exhibits have been moved to the NDLEA headquarters in Benin City for further investigation, while the vehicles are to be forfeited as instruments used in drug trafficking.
Ofoyeju described the operation as a major disruption of an inter-state trafficking network and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to intelligence-driven enforcement.
The NDLEA cannabis seizure underscores the scale of illicit drug movement across Nigeria’s transport corridors and the growing use of heavy-duty vehicles for concealment.
The interception highlights ongoing enforcement pressure on drug trafficking networks, particularly those operating between southern production zones and northern urban centres.
It also reflects increased reliance on intelligence-led operations aimed at disrupting supply chains before distribution.
