The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kano State Command, has intercepted and handed over 450,000 capsules of Pregabalin to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for forensic analysis and regulatory review.
According to a statement by NDLEA spokesperson, Sadiq Maigatari, the consignment was seized on Thursday, September 18, 2025, during a patrol along the Kano–Hadejia Road. The drugs, packed in 60 cartons and hidden inside a van, had no legitimate ownership or supporting documentation, raising strong suspicion of illicit distribution.
Acting under the Memorandum of Understanding signed between NDLEA and NAFDAC on November 24, 2024, the Chairman and Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), ordered the immediate transfer of the seized Pregabalin capsules to NAFDAC for laboratory testing and regulatory determination.
Maigatari noted that the interception reflects the resolve of the Kano Command, led by Assistant Comptroller General of Narcotics A.I. Ahmad, to strengthen inter-agency collaboration and maintain pressure on criminal networks trafficking controlled substances.
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Upon receiving the handover, NAFDAC’s Kano Coordinator, Ibrahim Kassim, commended the NDLEA for strict compliance with the MOU and pledged sustained cooperation to ensure dangerous drugs are taken out of circulation. He stressed that such collaborative enforcement would help protect public health and reinforce Nigeria’s regulatory framework against drug abuse.
The development comes amid rising concerns over the abuse of prescription drugs like Pregabalin across Nigeria. Security experts warn that the drug, often diverted into unregulated markets, has become a growing menace among young people. The joint NDLEA–NAFDAC action is seen as a decisive step in stemming the flow of unregistered pharmaceuticals into communities.
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