The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has concluded plans to establish full-scale anti-narcotic operations at the Benin Airport as part of intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking in Edo.

Mitchell Ofoyeju, Edo commander of the NDLEA, said in a statement on Wednesday in Benin, that the decision followed a strategic meeting between the NDLEA and the general manager of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Akinbinu Felix.

Mr Ofoyeju emphasised the growing threat of drug smuggling through air routes and 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.

“By doing this, we can prevent the trafficking of illicit drugs and create a safer society,” he said

The NDLEA boss noted that drug trafficking remained a deeply entrenched threat undermining both public health and the socio-economic stability of the state.

According to him, the planned presence of NDLEA operatives at the airport will enable strict monitoring, early detection, and interception of narcotics before they reach end users.

Mr Ofoyeju also elaborated on NDLEA’s broader mandate, which included clamping down on cannabis farms, dismantling methamphetamine laboratories, seizing illegal drugs, and reducing demand through both enforcement and rehabilitation programmes.

He described the planned operations at the airport as a critical extension of these efforts.

Part of NDLEA’s approach, he said, involved intensified public education campaigns, community engagement, and a toll-free hotline to provide citizens with access to counselling and drug testing services.

“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),” Mr Ofoyeju added.

In his remarks, the FAAN general manager, welcomed the initiative, stressing that “the fight against drug trafficking requires a united front.”

He pledged FAAN’s cooperation to ensure that the airport remains secured and free of narcotics activity.

Mr Felix, who previously worked with NDLEA operatives during his tenure at Port Harcourt Airport, expressed confidence in the agency’s capabilities and affirmed his commitment to the partnership.

In appreciation, Mr Ofoyeju decorated him as a War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) partner and presented him with an NDLEA souvenir.

(NAN)