The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kano State Command, has transferred 450,000 intercepted Pregabalin capsules to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for forensic analysis and regulatory action.
Pregabalin, a medication classified as an anticonvulsant and prescribed for pain relief, has in recent years become one of the most abused prescription drugs in Nigeria.
Initially designed for the treatment of epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and anxiety disorders, the drug has increasingly surfaced on the black market, where it is misused for its sedative and euphoric effects. Its widespread abuse has been linked to growing cases of addiction, mental health challenges, and social disorder, particularly among young people in northern Nigeria.
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According to the agency, the consignment was intercepted by an NDLEA patrol team along the Kano–Hadejia road. The drugs, concealed in a van and packed in 60 cartons, were brought to the NDLEA office for investigation.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Sadiq Maigatari, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Thursday.
“The seized items were brought to the NDLEA office for investigation; no legitimate ownership or documentation was presented for the consignment,” Maigatari stated.
Acting on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NDLEA and NAFDAC, signed on November 24, 2024, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), ordered the immediate transfer of the consignment to NAFDAC to enable detailed testing and determination of its regulatory status.
The NDLEA Kano State Strategic Command, led by ACGN A.I. Ahmad, reaffirmed its commitment to coordinated operations and stronger inter-agency collaboration in line with Marwa’s directive.
On receiving the consignment, the NAFDAC coordinator commended the NDLEA for adhering to the MoU and assured the agency of NAFDAC’s readiness to sustain collaboration on further investigations and regulatory enforcement.
“This joint action underscores both agencies’ determination to disrupt the illicit distribution of controlled pharmaceuticals and to protect public health and safety,” Maigatari added.
The NDLEA has consistently warned against the trafficking of Pregabalin, Tramadol, Codeine, and other controlled drugs, stressing that their diversion from medical use into illegal circulation poses serious risks to public health and national security.
In response, the agency has intensified surveillance across major transit routes notorious for the smuggling of illicit substances.
According to PUNCH, the MoU signed between NDLEA and NAFDAC in November 2024 aims to strengthen cooperation in intelligence sharing, forensic testing, and regulatory enforcement, closing loopholes exploited by traffickers who disguise illegal shipments as legitimate pharmaceutical supplies.
The recent seizure of 450,000 Pregabalin capsules in Kano and their subsequent handover to NAFDAC demonstrate the practical execution of this collaboration.
