The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has raised and dislodged 35 drug joints and hotspots in Kano State.
The state Commander of the agency, Dr Ibrahim Abdul, disclosed this on Monday while briefing newsmen on the activities of the command in the last one month.
The NDLEA boss stated that the raid was to keep the state free from drugs especially as 2019 general elections approaches.
Dr Abdul gave the names of the areas raided as: Plaza, Sanya Olu, Kabuga, Rimin Kebe and Danzaki village, Sauna, Wurare, Aisami, Sabon Titi, Dorayi, Hauren Gadagi, Kwanar Dan-marke Motor park, Chalawa, Madobi, Ring Road, Farawa village, Mariri Motor park and Kofar Ruwa, among others.
He further explained that the operation would be sustained to ensure that those drug users did not continue to patronise the joints and the hotspots.
He confirmed that during the operation,
a 42-year-old suspect named Okechukwu Echefu was arrested with nine cartons of fake Coartem tablets, seven cartons of fake Augmenting tablets, two cartons of Laclox tablets and two cartons containing brand package and label of the fake drugs.
I n addition, Dr Abdul stated that a total of 736,165 kilograms of drugs were seized by the command, which included “khat” a canabis lookalike which was imported from South Africa.
He added that 176 suspects were arrested, out of which 8 were female.
136 of them were for referred to counseling, while 5 regular clients were counseled and rehabilitated.
He attributed the success recorded to new approach adopted by the command, and thanked the Kano Emirate Council and the state government for their efforts in combating drug abuse and trafficking in the state.