Record-Breaking Seizure: NDLEA Edo Command Intercepts N724.5 Million Cannabis Consignment Hidden in Beer Trucks

NDLEA Edo Command seizes 7,245kg of skunk cannabis worth N724.5 million destined for Abuja. Read about the historic two-truck interception and arrests.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 13, 2026, 9:15 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Daily Post Nigeria

Meticulous Intelligence and Operational Success

Edo State NDLEA Commander Mitchell Ofoyeju announced the massive interception during a press briefing in Benin City on Monday, April 13, 2026. The operation was the result of a 72-hour intelligence-gathering mission and surveillance by a specialized crack team. Acting on actionable intelligence, officers intercepted two trucks—registered LUY 172 XC (Oyo) and LUY 281 XC (Oyo)—along the strategic Auchi-Abuja Road axis. The vehicles, which appeared to be transporting commercial beer, were found to be housing hundreds of bags of processed skunk cannabis.

The Suspects and the Logistics

Five individuals, all indigenes of Etsako East and Etsako West local government areas, were apprehended in connection with the shipment. The suspects were identified as Ibrahim Abu (29), Abu Abdullazeez (28), Jibril Jaminu (35), Andrew Moses (22), and Ganiyu Abu (21). Preliminary investigations reveal that the illicit cargo originated from Sabongida-Ora in Owan West and was specifically destined for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. Ofoyeju noted that the interception likely prevented significant social damage to the FCT and North Central regions.

Breakdown of the Seizure

The two trucks were found to contain a combined total of 483 bags of the potent cannabis variant. One truck carried 260 bags weighing 3,900 kilograms, while the second carried 223 bags. The combined gross weight reached 7,245 kilograms, exceeding seven metric tonnes. Commander Ofoyeju emphasized that under the leadership of Chairman Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), the agency remains committed to a zero-tolerance policy, aiming to dismantle drug networks and seize assets acquired through criminal trade.