The Edo State command of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has  apprehended 39 suspected drug traffickers in the month of May.

The state NDLEA commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, who disclosed this in Benin, said the command had also seized 1,303.8858 kilograms of illicit drugs within the period.

According to him,  those arrested  include 18 males and 21 females.

Commander Mitchell gave the breakdown of seized drugs to  include cannabis sativa, 1,133.337 kilograms; psychotropic substances, 118.4986 kilograms; methamphetamines, 0.14103 kilograms; cocaine, 0.0024 kilograms; codeine cough syrup 65.7 litres; and pentazocine, 2,000 millilitres.

He said the highest seizures was the interception of 74 and a half bags of cannabis sativa at Oke community, Ohunwude Local Government Area, weighing 1,115kg through an intelligence report.

“Two suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure are Isaac Israel (33), who hails from Akwa Ibom State and Precious Zion, a 19-year- old woman, who hails from Ogba LGA of Rivers State.

The commander further disclosed that one  Mohammed Isah (18) was apprehended with hard drugs during a raid at Oluku area of Benin.

Mitchell, who noted the direct link between drug trafficking and violent crimes, said drug control was germane to Governor Monday Okpebholo’s fight against  kidnapping and cultism in the state.