The intercepted drugs. Credit: NDLEA via NAN
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Kano Strategic Command has seized 75,000 capsules of pregabalin, 556 bottles of codeine cough syrup, and quantities of cannabis sativa in the Badawa area of Kano.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Sadiq Muhammad-Maigatari.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), pregabalin is an anticonvulsant and pain-relief medication. However, the NDLEA noted that the drug has increasingly become one of the most widely abused prescription medications in Nigeria in recent years.
Reacting to the development, the NDLEA Commander in Kano, Dahiru Yahaya-Lawal, said the operation was carried out following credible intelligence that the illicit drugs were intended for distribution during the forthcoming Sallah celebrations.
“The operation disrupted what would have been a significant supply to illicit markets in the state,” he said.
The agency added that the main suspect linked to the seized drugs is currently on the run and has been placed on the NDLEA wanted list.
“This seizure is a serious blow to the cartel’s network and protects the good people of Kano from the harms of these illicit substances,” Yahaya-Lawal stated.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to the directive of the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba-Marwa, to work towards achieving a drug-free society.
Yahaya-Lawal also commended members of the public for their cooperation with the agency and encouraged residents to continue providing useful information that could help in combating drug trafficking.
He warned individuals involved in drug trafficking and related activities to desist, stressing that the agency would continue to track down offenders and ensure they face justice. (NAN)
About The Author
