NDLEA, Army arrest five in Edo
Five suspected drug dealers, including a patent medicine vendor and a supermarket owner, have been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Edo State Command, in a joint operation with the Nigerian Army in Benin, Edo State.
The Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed in a press statement issued on Tuesday in Benin.
Commander Ofoyeju revealed that the five suspects were apprehended during intelligence-led operations carried out in collaboration with the Nigerian Army.
He explained that the arrests followed coordinated raids on identified drug hotspots across the state capital, during which, he said, large quantities of illicit drugs, including 11,297 capsules of tramadol, were recovered.
According to him, those arrested are Akam Theophilus (46), a patent medicine vendor; Ashitor Godfrey (25), a supermarket owner; as well as Asemota Endurance (23), Franklin Kijie (25) and Smart Ekhaitor (39).
Ofoyeju said the arrests were made at strategic locations in Benin City, including a patent medicine shop near the Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport (S&T) Barracks, a supermarket opposite Ekenwan Barracks and the Obagie area off Sapele Road.
Ofoyeju informed further that the exhibits allegedly recovered from the suspects include 11,297 capsules of tramadol, 400 tablets of diazepam, 108 tablets of Swinol, 22 tablets of Danabol, also known as “Molly”, 3.685 kilogrammes of cannabis, 181 grammes of Loud, seven grammes of methamphetamine and 10 bottles of codeine cough syrup.
Speaking further, Commander Ofoyeju said the arrests were in line with the directive of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), to rid Edo State of drug criminals.
“I have been mandated by the Chairman to take drug criminals out of Edo State. Drugs are a catalyst for crime.
"Anyone hiding under the canopy of a patent medicine shop or a supermarket to peddle tramadol, Swinol, diazepam, codeine cough syrup and cannabis will not go unpunished", he said.
The NDLEA commander added that the arrest of the five suspects sent a strong signal to drug dealers that there is no safe haven anywhere in the state.
On their parts, the Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport, Major General M. Hassan, and the Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Army 4 Brigade, Brigadier General A. O. Balogun, reaffirmed the Army’s support for the NDLEA,
They warned that there would be no hiding place for drug traffickers, especially around military formations.
