Illicit Drugs: Females Top Suspect List In Edo

Females top the list of suspected drug trackers arrested in the month of July by the Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Of the 49 suspects, females were 29 while males followed with 20.

The state commander of Narcotics, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this in Benin yesterday at the decoration of 73 newly promoted personnel of the command.

According to Ofoyeju, in the month under review, a total of 2,596.29 kilogrammes were seized, stressing that the shift in the suspects’ list indicates the “socio-economic vulnerability of women and a breakdown of traditional family stability.”

He said, “Three warehouses were detected in the month, two in Benin City and one at Illushi. Two vehicles, a Toyota Sienna with registration number Ondo NND 975 AG and a Toyota Camry with registration number Edo BEN 503 BK used in transporting cannabis were equally intercepted.

“Cannabis led the seizure list with 2,588.4 kilograms, psychotropic substances 6.13 kilograms, cocaine 0.071 kg, heroin 0.005 kg, and methamphetamine 1.68 kg. Additionally, the command seized 15.3 litres of codeine cough syrup and 10 cylinders of nitrous oxide, also called laughing gas. These assorted narcotics underscored the varied nature of substances being trafficked and abused within the state.

“The command also destroyed one cannabis farm located in the Egbisi forest of Abudu, Orhionmwon Local Government Area of the state. This farm measured an extensive 0.640903 hectares and was estimated to yield around 1,602.26 kilograms.”