The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), General Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has warned drug barons and traffickers that his agency is poised to smoke them out and make them face the consequences of their crimes.
Gen Marwa gave the warning on Sunday while reacting to the arrest of seven drug barons operating four large warehouses in Ukpuje Forest in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State where 16,344 bags of cannabis and seeds weighing 233,778kg were seized, in addition to two rifles and a double barrel gun.
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The spokesman of the agency, Jonah Achema, said the estimated street value of the drugs was put at over N1.4bn.
According to him, the suspects now in NDLEA custody, are Emmanuel Oki (62), who is the chairman of the vigilante group in Ukpuje; Chief Odi Sabato (42); Bright Inemi Edegbe (53); Gowon Ehimigbai (53); Enodi Ode (37); Ayo Oni (30) and Akhime Benjamin (43).
He quoted the Edo State Commander of the anti-drug agency, Buba Wakawa, as saying that it was the single largest concentration of cannabis discovered by the command.
Marwa while commending the commander, men and officers of the Edo State NDLEA command, as well as the army in Benin City for their support to ensure the success of the operation, said such offensive would be sustained across the country.
He said, “I remember I made it clear in my inaugural speech upon assumption of duty on January 18, 2021, that those involved in this illicit trade to either back out or have the NDLEA to contend with because our maxim must and will remain offensive action; to smoke the drug barons and traffickers out of their holes, forests and bunkers.
“The heat is on and we’ll continue to increase the furnace until we smoke them out of their hiding places to face the law.”
