NDLEA Operatives Survive Armed Attack following destruction of Cannabis Farms in Edo

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) came under heavy gunfire from suspected drug cartel members after raiding and destroying massive cannabis plantations in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State.

 

According to a statement issued on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at the NDLEA Headquarters, the operatives successfully cleared three large farms of skunk— a potent strain of cannabis sativa — spanning over 11 hectares in the Ewere Uzebba forest.

 

The operation, which took place on Tuesday, 8th July 2025, led to the destruction of 28,054.053 kilograms of the illegal crop. However, while exiting the forest, NDLEA officers were ambushed by armed men suspected to be linked to the drug syndicate behind the farms.

 

"The NDLEA operatives who went for the operation came under gun attack from armed members of the cartel on their way out of the forest. They were able to repel the attack and came out unhurt, while one of their operational vehicles was riddled with bullets," the agency said.

 

Despite the attack, officers recovered an additional 82kg of processed cannabis from the site.

 

In a related development, the NDLEA also made significant seizures at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos. Acting on intelligence, anti-narcotic officers intercepted 23 parcels of Loud, a high-grade strain of cannabis, concealed in newly imported microwaves. The consignment, weighing 11.3kg, originated from Bangkok, Thailand, and arrived via an Ethiopian Airlines flight transiting through Addis Ababa.

 

A suspect, Ezenwegbu Chike, was arrested in connection with the seizure, which occurred on Monday, 7th July 2025.

 

Additionally, NDLEA officials thwarted another smuggling attempt involving 420 grams of cocaine ingeniously concealed within 84 pieces of female lipsticks. The shipment, destined for the United Kingdom, was intercepted at a Lagos-based courier company barely a week before the microwave bust.

The agency also reported recent successes in the ongoing war against illicit drugs across its Commands in Taraba, Kano, Kogi, Gombe, Borno, and Kaduna States, reaffirming its commitment to ridding the country of drug trafficking networks.

The NDLEA has since called on members of the public to remain vigilant and continue providing credible information that could aid the agency’s efforts to dismantle drug syndicates operating within and outside Nigeria.