The Edo Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it apprehended 45 suspects in connection with illicit drug trafficking in the first quarter of 2018.
The state Commander of the agency, Mr Buba Wakawa, disclosed this in an interview in Benin on Wednesday.
Wakawa also said that the NDLEA seized 13, 542kg substances suspected to be illicit drugs within the period.
He said the arrested persons included 36 males and nine females.
The commandant also said that the agency convicted seven drug traffickers at the Federal High Court, Benin within the period.
Wakawa said the impounded drugs included 13,518kg of substance suspected to be cannabis sativa, 0.019g of drug suspected to be cocaine and 0.01 drug suspected to be heroin.
He said that the agency also destroyed suspected psychotropic substance weighing about 24.2kg, adding that it discovered 12 suspected cannabis farms measuring 7.4 hectares.
According to him, two of the cannabis farms were discovered at Okumo Oil Extension II in Uhumonwode LGA, while the others were discovered at Emun Forest in Orhiomwon LGA.
Wakawa said that the command also impounded four vehicles and a motorcycle used in conveying illicit drugs.
He decried the low sentences passed on convicted drug peddlers, noting that none of the seven convicts got up to a year imprisonment. (NAN)
