The Kano State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has handed over 450,000 capsules of the controlled drug Pregabalin to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for forensic analysis and regulatory review.
The consignment, packed in 60 cartons and concealed in a van, was intercepted by an NDLEA patrol team along the Kano–Hadejia road. According to the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Sadiq Maigatari, the drugs had no legitimate ownership or documentation.
Pregabalin, an anticonvulsant and pain-relief medication prescribed for epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and anxiety disorders, has become one of Nigeria’s most widely abused pharmaceuticals. Its misuse for sedative and euphoric effects has been linked to rising cases of addiction, mental health crises, and social unrest, particularly among young people in northern Nigeria.
Acting on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between NDLEA and NAFDAC in November 2024, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.) directed the immediate transfer of the seized drugs to NAFDAC. The move enables further forensic testing and determination of their regulatory status.
Receiving the items, the NAFDAC coordinator commended NDLEA for adhering to the MoU and assured continued collaboration on regulatory and investigative actions.
The NDLEA Kano State Strategic Command, led by ACGN A.I. Ahmad, reiterated its commitment to inter-agency cooperation, stressing that the operation reflects the agency’s determination to disrupt the illicit distribution of controlled pharmaceuticals.
“This joint action underscores both agencies’ resolve to safeguard public health and national security,” Maigatari stated.
The NDLEA has consistently raised concerns over the trafficking of Pregabalin, Tramadol, Codeine, and other controlled medicines, warning that their diversion from legitimate medical use poses a grave danger to society.