The Kwara State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested four suspects and seized 2.318 tonnes of cannabis with an estimated street value in the billions of naira.

The seizures were made within a single week, culminating in a press briefing on Tuesday in Ilorin, where State Commander Hajia Fatima Popoola disclosed the details.

Popoola said the drugs were intercepted during two early-morning operations in Offa and Omu-Aran, at approximately 3:00 a.m. and 5:30 a.m., respectively.

She revealed that the suspects concealed the illicit cannabis among sacks of sawdust in an attempt to evade detection.

All four suspects are currently in custody as investigations continue, while the agency reaffirmed its commitment to disrupting drug trafficking networks in the state.

"This is one of the biggest seizures we've made in a single week in recent times, and the street value of what we seized runs into at least billions of naira. This shows just how serious the drug use and trafficking have become in Kwara State."

The NDLEA state command boss said one of the suspects, a driver, was caught with 1.2 tons of cannabis, another suspect with 300kg of cannabis, while the remaining 720kg seizure was linked to two suspects.

The drugs were reportedly concealed in Canter trucks and disguised as ordinary goods with sacks of sawdust to deceive the NDLEA officials at checkpoints.

"A J5 vehicle was checked, which appeared to be empty, but we found it loaded with cannabis, and these operations took place mostly between 3:00 am and 5:30 am, when traffickers often move to avoid detection", she said.

The NDLEA boss, who said drugs are at the root of many criminal activities, added, "No sane person wakes up to commit inhumane acts or violent crimes. Most times, there is a drug influence behind it."

She said that security challenges in places like Kaiama, Chikanda, Patigi, Edu, and Omu Aran are drug-related.

She also said, while only two tons of drugs were seized in the whole of 2024, "the command has already seized over 2,000 kilograms between January and August in 2025."

Popoola credited the success recorded to the synergy among sister security agencies, saying, "The NDLEA is not working alone. We are working with the police, army, civil defence, and traditional rulers."

The Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq who was represented by the Senior Adviser/ Counsellor, Alhaji Saadu Salahu, commended the NDLEA for the feat, adding that the arrests and seizures reflected the commitment of the Abdulrazaq government to eliminate illicit drugs in the state.

He said the state was working closely with the NDLEA by mobilising traditional rulers, community leaders, civil society groups, and religious institutions to create awareness on the dangers of drug abuse.

"We need to educate the younger generation on the health implications of involvement in drugs", he said.

He urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, stressing that the fight against drug trafficking requires everyone's support.

PUNCH Metro reports that traditional rulers, representatives of military and para-military agencies were present at the press conference.