The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has confiscated controlled drugs valued at over N2.6 billion during a major operation in Jigawa State.
Speaking at the command’s headquarters in Dutse on Monday, the NDLEA Commander in the state, Musa Maina, revealed the details while parading the arrested suspects and the seized items.
Maina explained that the operation, which lasted three days and spanned Jigawa and Kano states, led to the successful tracking and seizure of the drugs in Gumel.
“Three suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure, and two vehicles were impounded,” he said.
The suspects, identified as Jamilu Muhammad, Abba Ibrahim, and Shuaibu Umar, were apprehended while attempting to transport the drugs to various destinations in Jigawa, Yobe, Bauchi, and the Niger Republic.
According to Maina, “the vehicles seized included a Toyota Sienna and an 18-seater Hummer bus, both loaded with drugs.”
He further disclosed that the intercepted drugs comprised 118.6 tons of Tramadol tablets and 195.3 kg of Pregabalin Capsules, among other substances.
Describing the success of the operation, Maina stated, “The operation was planned for a long time and was successful due to intelligence gathering.”
He hailed the seizure as the command’s most significant achievement in its ongoing battle against drug trafficking in the state.
Maina assured the public of the agency’s unwavering dedication, saying, “NDLEA would not relent in its efforts to combat drug trafficking and our commitment to fighting drug trafficking is evident in its actions.”
He emphasized that the arrested individuals are currently undergoing further investigation to identify and apprehend the masterminds behind the smuggling network.
Concluding, the NDLEA commander confirmed that the suspects would be duly prosecuted. “The NDLEA will ensure that they are prosecuted accordingly. The agency’s actions are a deterrent to would-be drug traffickers,” he said.