Five suspected drug dealers have been arrested in Benin City following a joint operation by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigerian Army, which led to the recovery of more than 11,000 capsules of tramadol.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the Edo State NDLEA Commander, Dr Mitchell Ofoyeju, said the drugs were seized from a patent medicine shop and a supermarket as part of renewed efforts to tackle drug trafficking and abuse in the state.
Dr Ofoyeju said the operation resulted in the arrest of a patent medicine vendor, a supermarket owner and three other individuals, alongside the seizure of various controlled substances.
The exhibits recovered include 11,297 capsules of tramadol, 400 tablets of diazepam, 108 tablets of Swinol, 22 tablets of Danabol (popularly known as ‘Molly’), 3.685 kilogrammes of suspected cannabis, 181 grammes of Loud, seven grammes of methamphetamine and 10 bottles of codeine cough syrup.
He identified the suspects as a 46-year-old patent medicine vendor, a 25-year-old supermarket owner and three others aged between 23 and 39.
The NDLEA commander said the joint action was carried out in compliance with directives from the agency’s Chairman, retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa, to remove drug criminals from communities.
He warned that individuals using patent medicine shops or supermarkets as cover for drug peddling would face the full weight of the law, describing such activities as unacceptable.
Dr Ofoyeju said the operation demonstrated the strong collaboration between the NDLEA and the Nigerian Army, noting that traffickers operating near military formations should not assume immunity.
He described the distribution of illicit drugs to young people as a threat to national development and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to creating a safer and healthier society.
He also appealed to the public to support the fight against drug trafficking by providing reliable information, assuring that all tips would be handled with strict confidentiality.
