NDLEA destroys 50 hectares of cannabis in Edo in 2017, arrests 240
The NDLEA's Edo State command said it destroyed 50 hectares of cannabis farms between January and December 2017, seized 50,000 kg of cannabis and arrested 240 suspected dealers.
The Edo State command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency destroyed 50 hectares of cannabis plantation across the state between January and December 2017.[1]Command spokesman Mitchell Ofoyeju said the destroyed farms would have generated 240,000 kg of cannabis, valued at 2.9 billion naira.[1]The command separately seized50,000 kg of cannabis in different locations, including the Benin metropolis, and arrested 240 suspected dealers in the operations.[1]
A year of seizures
Ofoyeju called 2017 very eventful for the command, with the highest monthly seizure of 10,929 kg in November and the lowest, 90.80 kg, in March.[1]He said cannabis cultivators had invaded farms across local government areas, particularly the government reserved forest, and decried the lack of operational facilities, including vehicles and rehabilitation bed spaces.[1]
Photos and video
Some of the cannabis seized in Edo in 2017. Photo: NDLEA, via Punch.Photo details
The NDLEA's Nasarawa State command destroyed cannabis farms of about 1.5 hectares each in Awe and Kokona Local Government Areas, its new commander CN Saidu Daniel said at Government House, Lafia. Governor Abdullahi Sule told the agency to search out and destroy cannabis farms on ungoverned land in the state.
NDLEA and soldiers destroyed a cannabis plantation covering 1.646 hectares at Eko Camp, near Illushi, Edo, on 28 October 2026. The agency estimated a potential yield of 4,115.53 kg and reported arresting a 50-year-old woman with 301 kg of processed cannabis.
State CID operatives on anti-crime patrol arrested Aondaver Dominic, Sylvanus Umoor and Peter Tar at Sabongida Bature and Gidan Kparev villages in Kadarko, Keana LGA, on 22 October 2026, recovering dry and fresh leaves suspected to be Indian hemp. A search of a garden behind the suspects' residence found more cannabis allegedly under cultivation; all exhibits were secured for NDLEA handover.
The NDLEA destroyed two cannabis farms in Ugbada Forest, Uzebba, on 18 October 2026, burning 450 kg of processed cannabis and keeping 97 kg as exhibits. A 42-year-old woman was arrested nearby with 35 kg.
