The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a husband and wife after uncovering a suspected drug warehouse in Benin City, Edo State.
The Edo State Commander of the agency, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, saying the operation was carried out at a house along Sapele Road following intelligence on suspected drug trafficking activities.
The suspects, Christian Chukwuka, 32, and his wife, Nwanneka Christian, 33, both from Ndokwa in Delta State, were arrested during the operation.
According to the NDLEA, operatives recovered 22 bags of skunk cannabis weighing 219.5 kilograms and compressed blocks of Canadian Loud, a highly potent strain of cannabis, weighing 192.67 kilograms. The total quantity of drugs seized was put at 412.17 kilograms.
Ofoyeju described the seizure as a major breakthrough in the agency’s fight against drug trafficking in Edo State. He said investigations are ongoing and the suspects will be charged to court after the probe is concluded.
Speaking after his arrest, Chukwuka said he was driven into the illegal drug business by unemployment and financial difficulties. He explained that he is a secondary school graduate and truck driver who was introduced to the trade by a friend after struggling to secure a job.
He added that the responsibility of caring for his twins made the financial pressure worse and expressed regret over his actions, saying he would not return to drug trafficking if given another chance.
The NDLEA commander also noted that the seizure ranks among the agency’s biggest drug interceptions in Edo State this year and reaffirmed its commitment to tackling drug trafficking and protecting communities from the dangers of illicit drugs.
