The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Kano State Strategic Command, on Thursday handed over 450,000 pregabalin capsules it intercepted to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control for further investigation.

Assistant Commander General of Narcotics (ACGN) and Kano State Commander of NDLEA, Abubakar Idris-Ahmad, disclosed this while addressing journalists during the handover ceremony in Kano.

He said the consignment, concealed in a van and packed in 60 cartons, was intercepted by an NDLEA patrol team on the Kano–Hadejia Road.

According to him, the items were seized after no legitimate ownership or documentation was presented for the drugs.

Mr Idris-Ahmad stated that the transfer was in line with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between NDLEA and NAFDAC on November 24, 2024, which provides for closer collaboration in curbing the circulation of unregistered pharmaceuticals.

He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strengthening inter-agency cooperation under the leadership of the NDLEA Chairman, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd).

Receiving the seized drugs, the NAFDAC State Coordinator, Kassim Idrissa-Ibrahim, represented the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Christiana Adeyeye, commended NDLEA for the seizure.

Mrs Adeyeye described the handover as a demonstration of strong collaboration between the two agencies in safeguarding public health.

“This handover represents more than just a transfer of evidence; it symbolises the strength of our collective effort to protect Nigerians from harmful, unregistered, and potentially dangerous pharmaceutical products,” she said.

The NAFDAC boss said the swift action of NDLEA had prevented the harmful substances from reaching unsuspecting citizens, adding that such synergy was vital in the fight against drug abuse and misuse.

She further assured that NAFDAC would conduct the necessary forensic analysis and take appropriate regulatory and legal actions in line with its mandate.

Both agencies reaffirmed their determination to disrupt the illicit distribution of controlled pharmaceuticals and protect public health and safety.

(NAN)