The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Edo State Command, has arrested 30 suspects over alleged drug peddling and prostitution in the state.
Items recovered from the suspects include packs of tramadol tablets, dried and fresh weed suspected to be cannabis sativa.
Parading the suspects, the Assistant Commander of Operations, Ondotimi Bebetu, said the suspects made up of 15 males and 15 females, were arrested during raids of hotels, hideouts, illegal drugs and drinking joints.
“The state government has discovered that cult fight in the state was as a result of drug use, they are acting under the influence of hard drug. The governor directed that the state security agencies should mop up the society of drug use”.
“The arrests were made from two days exercise against drug use and abuse carried out in Ihama and Country Home roads within Benin metropolis by NDLEA”.
“We raided joints where drugs dealings are being perpetrated. You see a lot of things there in the hostels. You see all manner of people in the hotels where they harbour themselves and do a lot of things.
Commander Bebetu, noted that, suspects who were arrested for prostitution will be transfered to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffick in Person (NAPTIP).
“Prostitution is also one of those aspects that is causing problem in the state. It is alleged that they are also using drugs. Hotels are raided, drugs joints were also raided”.
The Assistant Commander of Operations said investigation is ongoing to separate the drugs dealers from the users adding that, the drug dealers would be charged to court, while the users would be counseled.
