‘165 drug peddlers convicted, five impostors arrested in Kano’

The National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Kano, has disclosed that it facilitated the convictions of 165 drug peddlers in 2017.

The NDLEA commandant, Hamza Umar spoke at a press briefing at its Mumbayya office. He said the convictions were obtained out of the 619 cases pending at the Federal High Court, Kano.

Umar said five suspects were also arrested for allegedly impersonating the agency in the defrauding of unsuspecting persons in the state.

He said the suspects were arrested alongside some computer experts, who helped them to produced fake NDLEA identity cards.

The NDLEA boss announced that the agency confiscated over 17 tons of illicit substances during the outgoing year.

He cited the recovered substances to include cocaine, heroine, marijuana, tramadol, codeine and other psychotropic drugs. 

He said: “We have been informed about series of sharp practices by some people who parade themselves as NDLEA operatives. On many occasions, these gangs had defrauded unsuspecting people and even criminals in Kano, while pretending to be assisting them.” 

Umar explained that the command had so far confiscated 5.525kg of cannabis, 11 tons of psychotropic substances, 344.9 grams of cocaine and 88.2 grams of heroine.

He lamented the agency’s challenges in the areas of logistics and inadequate facility for rehabilitation.

He appealed to stakeholders to support its effort in tackling the increasing drug abuses in the state.

Also, the Northwest Zonal Coordinator of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (SISLAC), Nura Iro Ma’aji, expressed worry about the future of youths in Kano due to illicit drug abuses.  

He sought an urgent intervention of the Senate committee on drug abuse to ensure the ban of codeine and other cough syrups in the country, which have become sources of drug abuse.

Ma’aji bemoaned the state of thousands of youths in Kano who are gradually derailing due to illicit drugs, and urged the law enforcement agents to rise up to their responsibilities.

He called on the National Agency for Foods and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Federal Ministry of Health to monitor the production and circulation of these drugs.