Sokoto NDLEA arrests 146, seizes illicit drugs
In an intensified effort to curb drug trafficking and substance abuse, the Sokoto State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended 146 individuals and confiscated 982.8 kilograms of prohibited drugs over the past four months.
The State Commander, Alhaji Mustapha Muhammad Gidado, made this known on Tuesday during a press briefing in Sokoto, where he highlighted the command’s achievements since taking office.
He explained that those arrested span a wide range of ages, including a 73-year-old suspect, illustrating how drug-related crimes cut across all segments of society in the state.
Gidado disclosed that 13 suspects have already been convicted, while 18 others are currently facing trial, as the agency strengthens its prosecution efforts to discourage further violations.
In addition to enforcement actions, the NDLEA commander noted that the agency has remained committed to rehabilitation, successfully treating and reuniting 18 individuals battling drug dependence with their families within the same period.
Providing details of the seizures, he revealed that operatives intercepted 54 cartons of codeine-containing cough syrup along the Nigeria–Niger border, a corridor frequently exploited by traffickers.
He also reported the recovery of 15 bags of cannabis sativa hidden inside sacks of sawdust and transported into Sokoto from Edo State.
Other confiscated items included 198 blocks of cannabis sativa, diazepam, and various illegal substances, which Gidado said demonstrate the changing methods employed by traffickers and the magnitude of the task facing the command.
He credited the achievements to strong support from the Sokoto State Government, effective cooperation with other security agencies, and actionable intelligence supplied by members of the public.
Reaffirming the NDLEA’s resolve to tackle drug abuse and trafficking, Gidado stressed the importance of continued public assistance in the fight.
He assured residents that any information shared with the agency would be handled with strict confidentiality.
The developments come amid rising concern over the social and security consequences of drug abuse in the North-West, where authorities warn that illicit substances continue to drive criminal activity, youth unrest, and public health problems.
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