The Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) don recover 498 kilograms of skunk cannabis hidden inside one shrine for Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State.

According to the NDLEA Commander for the state, Mitchell Ofoyeju, the drugs were discovered during one coordinated operation carried out for Igwe Community on May 22, 2026, after security intelligence report pointed the agency to the area.

Ofoyeju explain say the operation led to the recovery of 59 bags of skunk cannabis weighing 489 kilograms together with additional 9 kilograms of cannabis seeds, bringing the total seizure to 498 kilograms.He talk say the drugs were abandoned by one suspected drug baron identified as Asrenre, wey currently dey on the run.

The NDLEA boss also reveal say some youths for the community resisted the operation because dem claimed say the shrine na sacred place for their deities and should not be searched or disturbed.Despite the resistance, NDLEA officers continued the search and later discovered the hidden cannabis inside the shrine area.Ofoyeju stress say the agency no go allow criminals use religion, tradition or remote locations to hide illegal drugs.

He added say the NDLEA Act gives the agency legal power to search any place where narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances are suspected to dey concealed.

He further assured residents say the agency go continue to pursue drug traffickers and strengthen intelligence-driven operations across Edo State and other parts of the country.