The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a large consignment of illicit drugs in Kano, including 75,000 capsules of pregabalin, 556 bottles of codeine cough syrup, and quantities of cannabis sativa.
The seizure was carried out by the NDLEA’s Kano Strategic Command during an operation 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 agency, pregabalin originally prescribed for nerve pain and seizures has increasingly become one of the most widely abused prescription drugs in Nigeria in recent years.
Reacting to the development, the NDLEA Commander in Kano, Dahiru Yahaya-Lawal, said the operation followed credible intelligence suggesting that the drugs were intended for distribution during the upcoming Sallah celebrations.
“The operation disrupted what would have been a significant supply to illicit markets in the state,” Yahaya-Lawal said.
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He added that the prime suspect linked to the seized drugs is currently on the run and has been placed on the agency’s wanted list.
According to him, the interception deals a major setback to the activities of drug traffickers operating in the area.
“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,” he said.
Yahaya-Lawal reaffirmed the command’s commitment to the directive of the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa, to rid the country of drug abuse and trafficking.
He also commended residents for their continued cooperation with the agency and urged members of the public to provide useful information that could assist ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking.
The commander warned individuals involved in drug-related activities to desist, stressing that the agency would continue to pursue offenders and bring them to justice.
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