The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has destroyed five cannabis farms and intercepted 50,000 capsules of tramadol during separate operations in Edo State.
The state commander of the agency, Dr Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed the successes during a briefing with newsmen in Benin on Monday. The operations targeted both the large-scale cultivation of marijuana and the distribution of synthetic opioids.
The agency achieved these results during separate operations conducted across Edo State, which included the destruction of cannabis plantations covering a total area of 2.27 hectares.
Crackdown on illicit drug production and distribution
The destruction of the five farms represents a targeted strike against the local production of cannabis in the state. According to Dr Ofoyeju, the scale of the plantations highlights the challenges faced by enforcement officers in monitoring rural areas where such crops are often cultivated.
In addition to the destruction of the plantations, the NDLEA seized 50,000 capsules of tramadol. Tramadol, a potent synthetic opioid, remains a major concern for Nigerian security and health agencies due to its widespread abuse and high potential for addiction.
The seizure of such a large quantity of tramadol suggests an attempt to supply significant numbers to the local or regional market. The command’s ability to intercept these drugs is part of its ongoing mandate to reduce the availability of controlled substances that fuel crime and social instability.
The NDLEA has maintained that its operations will continue to target both producers and traffickers. In Edo State, the command is increasingly focusing on disrupting the supply chain of illicit substances moving through the region’s transport corridors.
This crackdown coincides with a broader national effort by the federal government to tighten controls on the pharmaceutical supply chain, aimed at preventing the diversion of legal medications into the illicit market.
The agency is currently conducting further investigations to trace the source of the tramadol capsules and identify the individuals behind the cannabis plantations.
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