The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intensified its search for a suspected drug kingpin identified as Sunday, following the seizure of 604.5 kilogrammes of cannabis in Edo State.
The NDLEA Commander in Edo State, Ofoyeju, said the suspect had gone into hiding after the massive drug recovery but assured that operatives were closing in on him.
“We are tracking the suspected drug kingpin, one Sunday, who is in hiding following the recovery of the 604.5kg of cannabis in the operation. He has nowhere to hide because we will certainly apprehend him,” Ofoyeju said.
The commander disclosed this while giving an update on the agency’s ongoing operations against illicit drug trafficking and abuse across the state.
According to him, nine suspected drug dealers were arrested at different drug hotspots during a separate operation.
Those arrested included a 58-year-old grandfather, Musa Muhammed, and eight others comprising four men and four women.
Ofoyeju said Muhammed, a native of Bauchi State, was found with 280 grammes of Cannabis sativa, 35 grammes of Loud and 1.4 grammes of Colorado.
Another suspect, 55-year-old Ebere Anthony from Delta State, was arrested with 1.5 kilogrammes of Cannabis sativa.
Gift Oliseyenum, 31, also from Delta State, was allegedly found in possession of 74 grammes of Cannabis sativa, 45 grammes of Loud, 2.5 grammes of Colorado and 4.7 grammes of methamphetamine.
The commander said 27-year-old Boniface George, from Delta State, was arrested with 195 grammes of Cannabis sativa, while 28-year-old Muzamilu Mustapha from Katsina State was found with 40 grammes of Loud and 80 grammes of Cannabis sativa.
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Others arrested were 27-year-old Faustina Peter and 36-year-old Chucks Odili, both from Delta State. They were allegedly found with 35 grammes of Loud, 10 grammes of Colorado and 0.8 grammes of methamphetamine.
A 17-year-old suspect, Anna Agbona, from Edo State, was also arrested with 25 grammes of Tramadol, while 42-year-old Julius Enebuli from Delta State was found with one kilogramme of Cannabis sativa, 65 grammes of Loud and 15 grammes of Colorado.
Ofoyeju described the arrests and seizures as a significant boost to the agency’s efforts to curb the circulation of illicit drugs in Edo State.
He stressed that dismantling drug trafficking networks remained a major priority of the agency, adding that investigations would continue and suspects would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The NDLEA commander also called for greater cooperation from residents, particularly in providing useful information that could assist operatives in locating the fleeing kingpin and other drug traffickers.
He urged members of the public to report suspicious drug-related activities, noting that community participation remained crucial to the fight against drug abuse and trafficking in the state.