Husband, wife nabbed as NDLEA uncovers 412kg drug warehouse in Benin

Quick Read “I am a secondary school graduate and a truck driver, but joblessness made a friend introduce me to drug trafficking. My wife and I have twins to cater for and the financial pressure was too much. If given another chance, I will not go back to drugs,” he pleaded. Commander Ofoyeju said the bust underscores the growing concern over drug trafficking and abuse in the state. By Jethro Ibileke Operatives of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered a warehouse allegedly being used for illicit drug business by a couple in Benin City, the capital of Edo State. Edo NDLEA Commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, who disclosed his in a statement on Monday, noted that a husband and wife linked to the illicit trade were arrested by the operatives. According to him, a raid was carried out at their residential building along Sapele Road, following credible intelligence on the couple’s activities. The suspects, Christian Chukwuka (32), and his wife Nwanneka Christian (33), who are both indigenes of Ndokwa in Delta State, were arrested at the warehouse where they allegedly stored and distributed narcotics. During the operation, NDLEA officers seized 22 bags of skunk cannabis weighing 219.5kg, and compressed blocks of Canadian Loud, a potent synthetic cannabis strain, weighing 192.67kg, totaling 412.17kg of illicit drugs. Commander Ofoyeju said the bust underscores the growing concern over drug trafficking and abuse in the state. “Our efforts to combat drug trafficking remain unwavering. We will thoroughly investigate this case and ensure that justice is served,” he stated. In his statement, one of the suspects, Christian Chukwuka, blamed poverty and unemployment for his actions. “I am a secondary school graduate and a truck driver, but joblessness made a friend introduce me to drug trafficking. My wife and I have twins to cater for and the financial pressure was too much. If given another chance, I will not go back to drugs,” he pleaded. The Edo NDLEA Commander confirmed that investigations are ongoing, and the suspects will be charged to court soon. The agency described the seizure as one of the biggest drug busts in Edo this year and reiterated its commitment to ridding communities of illegal drug operations.