Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a married couple for allegedly operating a drug warehouse in Benin City, Edo State, where more than 412 kilogrammes of suspected cannabis were recovered.
The Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday, saying the suspects were arrested following credible intelligence that led operatives to the warehouse located along Sapele Road in the state capital.
The suspects were identified as Christian Chukwuka, 32, and his wife, Nwanneka Christian, 33, both said to be natives of Ndokwa in Delta State.
According to Ofoyeju, the raid resulted in the recovery of 22 bags of skunk weighing 219.5 kilogrammes, as well as compressed blocks of Canadian Loud—a potent synthetic strain of cannabis—weighing 192.67 kilogrammes.
He described the operation as one of the largest drug seizures recorded by the command in recent times.
“We arrested a husband and wife, Christian Chukwuka and Nwanneka Christian, at the illicit warehouse where they allegedly dealt in narcotic drugs,” the NDLEA commander said.
He added that the warehouse was concealed within a residential neighbourhood along Sapele Road, raising concerns over the growing use of residential areas as distribution points for illicit drugs.
Ofoyeju said the seizure underscored the agency’s determination to dismantle drug trafficking networks and prevent narcotics from finding their way into communities.
He disclosed that investigations were ongoing and assured that the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of the probe.
“Our efforts to combat drug trafficking remain unwavering. We will thoroughly investigate this case and ensure that justice is served,” he said.
Meanwhile, one of the suspects, Christian, reportedly blamed his involvement in the illicit trade on economic hardship.
He claimed that after completing secondary school and training as a truck driver, he was unable to secure a job and was later introduced to drug trafficking by a friend.
“My wife has a set of twins for me, and the pressure of taking care of the family has been a challenge. If given another chance, I promise not to deal in drugs again,” he was quoted as saying.
The NDLEA has continued to intensify operations across the country as part of efforts to curb the trafficking and abuse of illicit drugs, with several major seizures and arrests recorded in recent months.
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