The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has finalised plans to commence full-scale anti-narcotics operations at Benin Airport as part of renewed efforts to curb drug trafficking in Edo State.
Mitchell Ofoyeju, NDLEA Commander in Edo, made this known in a statement on Wednesday following a strategic meeting with Akinbinu Felix, General Manager of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Ofoyeju highlighted the increasing threat posed by drug smuggling through air routes, stressing the need for heightened surveillance and inter-agency collaboration.
“The command’s grand strategy is to make Edo State impregnable to drug cartels by air, water, and land,” he said.
“By doing this, we can prevent the trafficking of illicit drugs and create a safer society.”
He noted that drug trafficking continues to undermine public health and the socio-economic fabric of the state.
According to him, deploying NDLEA operatives at the airport will allow for stricter monitoring, early detection, and interception of narcotics before they reach consumers.
He also outlined the agency’s broader mandate, which includes eradicating cannabis farms, dismantling methamphetamine laboratories, seizing illicit substances, and reducing demand through enforcement and rehabilitation initiatives.
The planned operations at the airport, he said, form a critical component of this wider strategy.
As part of its approach, the agency is ramping up public education, community outreach, and a toll-free hotline to provide citizens with access to drug testing and counselling.
“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),” Ofoyeju added.
In response, FAAN General Manager Akinbinu Felix welcomed the initiative, stating that “the fight against drug trafficking requires a united front.”
He assured NDLEA of FAAN’s full support in ensuring the airport remains secure and drug-free.
Felix, who previously worked with NDLEA personnel during his time at Port Harcourt Airport, praised the agency’s efforts and reaffirmed his commitment to the collaboration.
As a token of appreciation, Ofoyeju decorated him as a War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) partner and presented him with an NDLEA souvenir.
(NAN)