Couple Arrested with Over 412kg of Illicit Drugs in Edo, Husband Blames Poverty

Couple Arrested with Over 412kg of Illicit Drugs in Edo, Husband Blames Poverty.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a couple in Benin City, Edo State, over alleged involvement in illicit drug trafficking.

The suspects, identified as 32-year-old Christian Chukwuka and his 33-year-old wife, Nwanneka Christian, both from Ndokwa, Delta State, were apprehended during a raid on their warehouse along Sapele Road after intelligence linked them to illegal drug operations.

According to the Edo State NDLEA Commander, Dr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, operatives recovered 22 bags of skunk cannabis weighing 219.5 kilograms and compressed blocks of Canadian Loud, a potent synthetic strain of cannabis, weighing 192.67 kilograms bringing the total seizure to over 412 kilograms.

Ofoyeju described the operation as a major success in the agency’s crackdown on drug trafficking, noting that it underscores the growing threat of illicit drug distribution in the state.

During interrogation, Christian allegedly admitted to the crime, saying unemployment and financial hardship drove him into drug trafficking. He explained that although he trained as a truck driver after secondary school, he struggled to find work and was introduced to the illegal trade by a friend.

He also said the responsibility of providing for his wife and their twin children contributed to his decision, pleading for another chance and promising to abandon the illicit business.

The NDLEA said the couple will be charged to court after investigations are completed.