The Nigeria Customs Service’s Kano/Jigawa command has handed over 491,000 seized tramadol hydrochloride tablets, valued at over ₦150 million, to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Kano.
This consignment of the prohibited opioid was intercepted along the Gumel-Birniwa route in Jigawa, cleverly concealed within a dark-tinted Lexus 450 SUV, and smuggled into the country under the cover of darkness.
At the handover event in Kano on Monday, area comptroller Dalhatu Abubakar noted that the seizure stemmed from actionable intelligence and reflects the command’s determination to combat illicit drug trafficking.
“This seizure highlights our commitment to eliminating dangerous drugs from our communities. The individuals behind smuggling and transportation are not the end-users. We must ask ourselves, who are these drugs intended for?” he commented.
He expressed worries about the societal impact of drug abuse, linking it to crime, violence, economic instability, homelessness, and serious health issues such as compromised immune systems and psychological dependency.
The comptroller called for the involvement of religious and traditional leaders, civil society groups, government entities, and the media to bolster awareness and advocacy efforts against drug abuse.
Mr Abubakar also pointed out the gender dimensions of the issue, revealing that one in every four drug users in Nigeria is a woman—a concerning trend due to the crucial role women play in family and society.
Quoting figures from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), he emphasised that Nigeria, with a population of approximately 236.8 million, is the sixth most populous nation globally, housing around three million drug users in the North-West zone alone.
Upon receiving the seized goods, NAFDAC state coordinator in Kano, Kasim Idrissa, commended the Customs Service for their vigilance and collaboration.
Mr Idrissa reiterated the agency’s dedication to enhancing inter-agency cooperation in tackling the drug issue and encouraged the public to support regulatory and enforcement agencies by reporting any suspicious activities.
He added that a date for the destruction of the seized drugs will be announced shortly, in accordance with regulatory procedures.
