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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kano State Command, has handed over 450,000 intercepted pills of Pregabalin capsules to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further forensic and regulatory examination. The consignment, weighing several cartons, was intercepted by NDLEA operatives along the Kano–Hadejia road, highlighting ongoing concerns about the rising abuse of prescription drugs in northern Nigeria.
Pregabalin, an anticonvulsant and pain-relief medication originally prescribed for epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and anxiety disorders, has in recent years become one of the most widely abused prescription drugs in the country. Its misuse for sedative and euphoric effects has fuelled cases of addiction, mental health crises, and social problems, especially among young people in the northern region.
According to the NDLEA Public Relations Officer in Kano, Mr. Sadiq Maigatari, the drugs were carefully concealed in a van and packed in 60 cartons. He said the patrol team intercepted the consignment during routine surveillance. “The seized items were brought to the NDLEA office for investigation; no legitimate ownership or documentation was presented for the consignment,” Maigatari said in a statement issued on Thursday.
The handover was in line with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on 24 November 2024 between NDLEA and NAFDAC. The agreement was designed to enhance collaboration in intelligence sharing, forensic testing, and regulatory enforcement in order to curb the trafficking of controlled medicines across Nigeria. Acting on the MoU, the Chairman and Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), directed the immediate transfer of the seized capsules to NAFDAC.
The NDLEA Kano Strategic Command, led by Assistant Commander General of Narcotics, Mr. A.I. Ahmad, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to inter-agency collaboration in line with General Marwa’s agenda to strengthen Nigeria’s fight against illicit drug trafficking. Ahmad emphasised that the command will continue to conduct aggressive surveillance along known transit routes used by traffickers.
Receiving the items, the NAFDAC coordinator in Kano expressed gratitude to NDLEA for adhering to the MoU and assured the command of NAFDAC’s readiness to work closely in follow-up investigations. The agency pledged to carry out comprehensive laboratory testing and regulatory checks to determine the true status of the seized pregabalin capsules.
“This joint action underscores the determination of both agencies to disrupt the illicit distribution of controlled pharmaceuticals and protect public health and safety,” Maigatari noted.
NDLEA has consistently raised alarm over the trafficking of controlled medicines such as pregabalin, tramadol, and codeine, warning that their diversion from medical use into illicit markets poses a grave threat to national security. The agency explained that abuse of these substances often contributes to criminality, violence, and social unrest in communities.
To address the growing menace, NDLEA has intensified its crackdown on illegal pharmaceutical distribution networks, particularly across highways and border communities. The agency has also increased surveillance operations along transit routes in Kano, Jigawa, Borno, and other northern states known for drug smuggling activities.
The interception of 450,000 pregabalin capsules and their subsequent handover to NAFDAC reflects the implementation of the NDLEA-NAFDAC cooperation pact signed last year. Both agencies have pledged to sustain the partnership in order to close loopholes that traffickers exploit to disguise illicit shipments as legitimate pharmaceutical consignments.
The collaboration comes at a time when Nigeria is grappling with a surge in drug abuse cases, with several reports linking the misuse of prescription medicines to rising youth unemployment, insecurity, and mental health breakdowns. Experts warn that unless controlled medicines are strictly regulated and monitored, the crisis could escalate into a larger public health disaster.
With this latest interception, NDLEA and NAFDAC have once again sent a message that coordinated enforcement is key to dismantling drug cartels and protecting Nigerian communities from the dangers of substance abuse.
