The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has confiscated about 7.1 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, Tramadol, Diazepam and Exol in Katsina.

The NDLEA Commander in the state, Mohammed Bashir, said this on Tuesday in Katsina while parading two suspects arrested in connection with the seizure.

He said their arrest and confiscation of the drugs followed an intensive patrol operation by his operatives in the state.

“The command has intensified patrol across the state, especially when you consider the yuletide period and the political activities.

“You may not believe me that this is the period when availability of the drugs and its consumption is on the high side.

“We have to intensify our daily patrol both morning and night.

“Incidentally on Dec. 12, our men while stopping and searching vehicles on Kano-Katsina road intercepted a commercial vehicle with cannabis sativa weighing 4.5 kilograms and 2.5 kilograms of tramadol,” he said.

Mr Bashir said that the suspects were travelling from Kano to Katsina.

“You can imagine the kind of havoc it would cause if this quantity of drugs got into the system considering the forthcoming holiday and the elections.

“Also on Dec. 5, my men at Malumfashi-Zaria road towards Katsina intercepted this Diazepam and Exol weighing four and 20 kilograms respectively. The owner was apprehended.

“Investigation is almost concluded, the suspects would be arraigned before the Federal High Court in Katsina.”

The NDLEA Commander appealed to commercial vehicle drivers to always conduct searches of passengers’ luggage boarding their vehicles to avoid being implicated.

He also called on the general public to always notify the command’s operatives whenever they suspect individuals to be drug traffickers.

One of the suspects said that he was transporting the cannabis sativa from Abeokuta to Maradi in Niger Republic.

(NAN)