The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced plans to establish full-scale anti-narcotics operations at the Benin Airport as part of efforts to step up the fight against drug trafficking in Edo State.
Edo State NDLEA Commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, made this known in a statement issued in Benin on Wednesday, following a strategic meeting between the agency and the General Manager of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr Akinbinu Felix.
Ofoyeju highlighted the increasing use of air routes for drug smuggling and stressed the need for enhanced surveillance and cooperation among security agencies.
“The command’s grand strategy is to make Edo State impregnable to drug cartels by air, water, and land. By doing this, we can prevent the trafficking of illicit drugs and create a safer society,” he stated.
The commander underscored the persistent threat posed by drug trafficking, which, he said, continues to undermine public health and the socio-economic stability of the state.
According to him, deploying NDLEA operatives to the airport will ensure tighter monitoring, early detection, and swift interception of narcotics before they reach consumers.
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Ofoyeju also outlined the broader mandate of the agency, which includes dismantling cannabis farms, methamphetamine laboratories, and drug distribution networks, as well as reducing drug demand through enforcement and rehabilitation.
He described the upcoming operations at the Benin Airport as a “critical extension” of these initiatives.
The NDLEA’s approach, he noted, also involves ramping up public awareness campaigns, community engagement, and offering a toll-free hotline for counselling and drug testing.
“The introduction of at-home counselling and the culture of drug testing is a strong response from the agency under the leadership of Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd),” he added.
In his remarks, FAAN General Manager, Akinbinu Felix, welcomed the initiative, describing it as timely and necessary.
“The fight against drug trafficking requires a united front,” he said, pledging FAAN’s full cooperation to ensure that the Benin Airport remains secure and free from narcotics activity.
Felix, who previously collaborated with NDLEA personnel during his posting to Port Harcourt Airport, expressed confidence in the agency’s operational competence and reaffirmed his commitment to the partnership.
In recognition of his support, Ofoyeju decorated Felix as a War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) partner and presented him with an NDLEA souvenir.
