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 and regulatory testing.
Pregabalin, originally prescribed for epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and anxiety disorders, has become one of the most widely abused prescription drugs in Nigeria, with rising cases of addiction, mental health crises, and social unrest, especially among youth in the North.
According to NDLEA spokesperson Sadiq Maigatari, the drugs were intercepted by a patrol team on the Kano–Hadejia road, concealed in a van and packed in 60 cartons without valid ownership or documentation.
Acting on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two agencies in November 2024, NDLEA Chairman, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), ordered the immediate transfer of the consignment to NAFDAC for further examination.
Receiving the seized items, the NAFDAC State Coordinator expressed appreciation to NDLEA, reaffirming readiness to strengthen collaboration on intelligence, testing, 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 said.
The NDLEA, under the leadership of ACGN A.I. Ahmad in Kano, pledged to intensify surveillance on major transit routes notorious for illicit drug movement. The agency has consistently warned about the trafficking of Pregabalin, Tramadol, Codeine, and other controlled medicines, stressing that their diversion from medical use threatens both public health and national security.
Analysts say the interception of nearly half a million Pregabalin pills demonstrates the practical enforcement of the NDLEA–NAFDAC cooperation, which aims to close loopholes exploited by traffickers who disguise illicit shipments as legitimate pharmaceuticals.
