News Investigators/ The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kano Strategic Command, has destroyed 12.2 tonnes of seized illicit drugs in Kano.
The Chairman of the NDLEA, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, made the disclosure during the public exercise on Monday.
Marwa, represented by the Director, Operations and General Investigation, Mr Suleiman Ahmed-Ningi, said the destruction symbolised the government’s resolve to dismantle drug – trafficking networks and protect communities from the devastating effects of illicit substances.
“What you will witness today is not theatre. It is justice made visible.
“Every gram being destroyed today represents suffering averted, a life protected and a family spared.
“Every kilogram of substances is a message to those who profit from drug addiction that the agency is coming for you, and we will not stop,” he said.
The NDLEA boss described Kano as a strategic state with a large urban population, extensive border routes and long-standing drug trafficking networks, requiring sustained enforcement and collaboration.
He expressed concerns over the diversion of controlled medicines such as tramadol, codeine and pentazocine from legitimate pharmaceutical channels into illicit markets.
He asserted that the agency has directed the establishment of NDLEA-Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Joint Oversight Committees across its commands to strengthen surveillance of regulated medicines and curb their diversion.
“The agency has also introduced an Alternative Development Initiative (ADI) which began in Ondo State, to encourage cannabis farmers to embrace legitimate farming means of livelihood.” he said.
He appealed to Vice Chancellors, and tertiary institutions in Kano to adopt the agency’s Drug Integrity Testing programme as part of efforts to keep campuses free from illicit drugs.
Earlier, the Commander of the NDLEA Kano Strategic Command, Dahiru Yahaya-Lawal, said the destroyed exhibits comprised 12,233.946 kilogrammes of assorted illicit substances.
He said 11,890.427 kilogrammes were seized by the Kano Strategic Command, while 343.519 kilograms were intercepted at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport Command.
According to him, the destroyed drugs included cannabis sativa, tramadol, codeine, pentazocine, diazepam, pregabalin, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, herbal mixtures and other psychotropic substances.
Yahaya-Lawal said the seizures were made through intelligence-led operations, targeted raids and sustained enforcement across the state.
He further disclosed that the command had arrested 904 suspects, comprising 869 males and 35 females from January to date.
The commander said that the command also secured more than 54 convictions with some offenders receiving jail terms of up to 15 years.
He said the command had intensified operations under the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative through targeted operations, including “Operation Sharar Mafaka and “Operation Ramadan Mubarak ” leading to the dismantling of several drug distribution networks.
Yahaya-Lawal commended Marwa and Gov Abba Kabir-Yusuf for their support in the fight against drug abuse.
He also commended Justice S.M Shu’aibu, and other Federal High Court judges on their diligence, timely judgments, and unwavering support as well as sister security agencies, traditional institutions and community organisations for supporting the agency’s operations.
In his remarks, Gov. Kabir-Yusuf reiterated his administration’s commitment to tackling illicit drug abuse and related crimes through both enforcement and rehabilitation programmes.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Umar Ibrahim-Farouk, the governor said the state had deployed 1,000 security personnel to 52 identified crime hotspots to curb drug-related criminal activities.
He added that the state government had provided the NDLEA with three operational vehicles to strengthen its operations and pledged continued logistical support for the agency and other security organisations in the state
NAN