The Kwara State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized 2.318 tons of cannabis, with a street value estimated in billions of naira, in one week.
The State Commander of NDLEA, Hajia Fatima Popoola announced the seizure and the arrest of suspects at a news conference in Ilorin, the state capital, on Tuesday.
Popoola said that the cannabis were intercepted during two operations along Offa and Omu Aran axis of the Command at about 3am and 5:30 am.
She said four suspects arrested in connection with the seizures, concealed the drugs among sacks of saw dust.
“This is one of the biggest seizures we’ve made in a single week in recent time, and the street value of what we seized runs into at least, billions of naira. This shows just how serious the drug use and trafficking have become in Kwara State,” she said.
The NDLEA boss said one of the suspects, a driver, was caught with 1.2 tons of cannabis, another suspect with 300kg of cannabis, while the remaining 720kg seizure was linked to two suspects.
The drugs were reportedly concealed in trucks and disguised as ordinary goods with sacks of saw dust to deceive NDLEA officials at check points.
“A J5 vehicle was checked, which appeared to be empty, but we found it loaded with cannabis, and these operations took place mostly between 3 am and 5:30 am, when traffickers often move to avoid detection,” she said.
The NDLEA boss, who said that drugs were at the root of many criminal activities in the state, added that “No sane person wakes up to commit inhumane acts or violent crimes. Most times, there is drug influence behind it”.
Popoola also stressed that security challenges in places like Kaiama, Chikanda, Patigi, Edu, and Omu Aran were drug-related.
She also said that while only 2 tons of drugs were seized in the whole of 2024, “the Command has already seized over 2,000 kilograms between January and August in 2025”.
The Kwara NDLEA Commander credited the success recorded to the synergy among sister security agencies.
“The NDLEA is not working alone. We are working with the police, army, civil defence, and traditional rulers,” she said.
Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq through his Senior Adviser/Counsellor, Alh Saadu Salahu commended the NDLEA for the feat, adding that the arrests and seizures reflected the commitment of the Abdulrazaq-led government to eliminate illicit drugs in the state.
He said the state was working closely with the anti-narcotic agency by mobilising traditional rulers, community leaders, civil society groups, and religious institutions to create awareness on the dangers of drug abuse.
“We need to educate the younger generation on the health implications of involvement in drugs”, he said.
He called on the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, stressing that the fight against drug trafficking requires the support of all citizens.
LEADERSHIP reports that traditional rulers, representatives of military and para- military agencies were present at the press conference.
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