NDLEA, Army seize 604kg cannabis in Edo raid; drug kingpin at large

Personnel from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Nigerian Army recovered 604.5 kilograms of cannabis during a coordinated raid in Edo State on August 5, 2026. The operation targeted a major drug distribution point located in Ewe Luleha, within Owan West Local Government Area.

The seized cannabis was packaged in 65 bags, classified as skunk variety. Nine individuals were arrested at the scene, including a 58-year-old man.

The Edo State NDLEA commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, announced the seizure in a statement released on Monday. He disclosed that authorities have initiated a search for a suspected drug kingpin identified as Sunday, who fled the location before officers arrived.

Ofoyeju indicated that the fugitive would be apprehended in due course. The raid forms part of broader enforcement efforts against cannabis trafficking in the state.

In a separate engagement at an Edo Central town hall meeting, Ofoyeju presented findings linking cannabis cultivation activities to other criminal enterprises plaguing rural communities. He identified kidnapping, arms smuggling, and youth recruitment into armed groups as crimes fueled by the drug trade in the region.

The August operation reflects intensified collaboration between federal security agencies and the military in combating drug trafficking networks. The scale of the seizure—more than half a metric tonne—underscores the volume of illicit substances moving through Edo State's supply chains.

The arrest of nine individuals and ongoing pursuit of the principal suspect demonstrate concurrent efforts to dismantle both the distribution infrastructure and command structure of trafficking operations.