Imagine 73 tonnes of illegal drugs going up in smoke. That’s exactly what happened in Benin City this week as the NDLEA turned N2.8bn worth of narcotics to ash.

So, here’s what went down in Edo, as reported by cbinews.tv.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) just torched a massive 73,463.21kg haul of illicit drugs and psychotropics – all worth a staggering N2.8 billion. The public burning happened on Thursday in Benin City, with Edo State officials, National Assembly members, NDLEA brass, and other security bigwigs watching it all go up in flames.

What did they actually burn?

Mostly cannabis – we’re talking over 73,000kg of the stuff. But that’s not all. They also incinerated tramadol, diazepam, codeine syrup, plus smaller amounts of meth, cocaine and heroin.

What they’re saying

NDLEA boss Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), speaking through his Director of Operations Suleiman Ningi, didn’t mince words:

> “The illicit drugs being destroyed today amount to 73,463.21 kilogrammes and are valued at N2.8bn.”

He made it clear this isn’t just about burning drugs – it’s about tearing down the trafficking networks behind them.

Edo Governor Monday Okpebholo, represented by Edesili Anani of the Edo State Drug Control Committee, called it a fight for Nigeria’s soul:

> “The war on drugs is a war for the soul of our nation. It is a war against criminality, kidnapping, banditry and the devastating health consequences of substance abuse.”

Senator Joseph Ikpea for Edo Central also chimed in, promising more legislative muscle – better funding, gear, and tougher laws for the NDLEA.

How did NDLEA pull this off?

According to Edo Commander Mitchell Ofoyeju, his team’s been busy intercepting drugs hidden in trucks and vehicles, nabbing suspects across the board, and even finding stashes in some pretty weird spots – yes, including shrines.

The bigger picture

This isn’t a one-off. The NDLEA’s been on a roll:

- April: Eight-hectare cannabis farm destroyed in Cross River State

- June 2025: 30-hectare cannabis farm wiped out in Odukpani LGA, with 163.9kg of seeds recovered

- April 2024: A jaw-dropping 304,436kg and 40,042 litres of narcotics destroyed nationwide

What you should know

This Edo bust is part of a wider South-South sweep. cbinews.tv notes the NDLEA locked down an interim forfeiture for N33.6bn worth of opioids seized at Onne Port between April and September 2025. That same port saw N9.3bn in opioids and codeine syrup intercepted in June 2025. NAFDAC’s also in on it – they seized 16 containers of fake drugs worth N20.5bn there in August 2025.

And Edo itself? Just in Q1 2026, NDLEA seized drugs worth over N1.8bn and arrested 104 suspected traffickers in the state.

Bottom line: the NDLEA isn’t playing. As cbinews.tv reports, the message is loud and clear – Nigeria’s drug networks are feeling the heat.

#NDLEA #EdoState #SayNoToDrugs #NigeriaNews #DrugBust #BeninCity #cbinewstv #WarOnDrugs