NDLEA operatives in Edo State have seized two buses carrying a large load of cannabis.
The suspected traffickers escaped after abandoning the vehicles as officers moved in to intercept them.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Edo State have intercepted two Toyota Sienna buses loaded with one thousand four hundred and fifty five kilograms of cannabis along the Okhokho ISI community route in Uhunmwode Local Government Area. The suspected traffickers fled the scene after a hot chase, abandoning the vehicles and the drugs.
The Edo State NDLEA Commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed the development in a statement released in Benin City on Monday, November 17. According to him, officers on patrol sighted the vehicles suspected to be transporting narcotics and moved to intercept them.
He said the buses were traced to Okpuje, a community known for cannabis cultivation and trafficking. The first vehicle, a light blue Toyota Sienna with registration number EPE 545 EV, was found with 666 kilograms of dried substances believed to be cannabis sativa. The second bus, a dark ash Toyota Sienna with registration number ABC 142 CD, contained 789 kilograms of the same substance.
Ofoyeju explained that no arrests were made as the occupants of the two vehicles escaped into surrounding areas, abandoning the buses when they realized they had been cornered by NDLEA operatives.
The commander warned drug traffickers that the agency is intensifying its operations, adding that a full investigation has begun to track down those involved. He said the NDLEA will continue to apply strong measures against the illicit drug trade and will not relent in its efforts to dismantle criminal networks in the state.
Ofoyeju assured the public that the command remains vigilant and is working closely with local communities to ensure a safer environment. He urged residents to report suspicious activities linked to drug trafficking, stressing that community cooperation is essential in the fight against drug abuse in Edo State.
