Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a husband and wife in Edo State after recovering more than 412 kilograms of cannabis from a suspected drug warehouse in Benin City.
The suspects, identified as 32-year-old Christian Chukwuka and his 33-year-old wife, Nwanneka Christian, were arrested during a raid on the warehouse along Sapele Road after receiving credible intelligence on the couple’s alleged involvement in illicit drug trafficking.
The Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Dr Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed the arrests on Monday while briefing journalists on the command’s recent operational achievements.
Ofoyeju said the operation was launched after intelligence reports linked the suspects to the illegal storage and distribution of narcotic drugs.
“We arrested a husband and wife, Christian Chukwuka, 32 years old, and Nwanneka Christian, 33 years old, at the illicit warehouse,” he said.
According to him, the couple allegedly operated the warehouse as a base for trafficking narcotic substances before they were apprehended by NDLEA operatives.
He said officers recovered 22 bags of skunk weighing 219.5 kilograms from the warehouse, alongside compressed blocks of Canadian Loud weighing 192.67 kilograms.
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The total seizure exceeded 412 kilograms of cannabis, marking one of the command’s significant drug recoveries in recent operations.
Describing the operation as a major breakthrough, Ofoyeju said the agency remained committed to dismantling drug trafficking networks across Edo State.
“Our efforts to combat drug trafficking remain unwavering. We will thoroughly investigate this case and ensure that justice is served,” he said.
He added that investigations were ongoing and that the suspects would be charged in court upon their conclusion.
Speaking after his arrest, Christian blamed unemployment and financial hardship for his alleged involvement in drug trafficking.
“I am a secondary school graduate, and I learnt how to drive trucks, but joblessness led me into drug trafficking,” he said.
He claimed he was introduced to the illicit trade by a friend and said the financial burden of providing for his family pushed him further into the business.
“My wife has a set of twins for me, and the pressure of financial upkeep has been a challenge. “If given another chance, I promise not to deal in drugs again,” he said.
NAN
