Pictured! Milian, Four Nigerians Arrested For Drugs Hidden In Kano

A haul of codeine and Tramadol hidden in warehouses in Kano
State has been recovered by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, while a
Malian and four Nigerians were arrested in connection with the psychotropic
drugs.

The two drugs remain the most commonly abused narcotics by
youths in the northern part of the country, the NDLEA had revealed.

The agency’s spokesperson, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, said on
Friday that 2,592kgs of codeine and 1,988kgs of Tramadol were recovered from
five secret warehouses located within the metropolis by officers of the Kano
State command.

“This arrest is part of efforts to reduce the sales and
demand for psychotropic substances in the state,” he said.

The Kano State Commander of the NDLEA, Mr Hamza Umar,
identified the suspects as Ikechukwu Ukwuoma (34), Nura Ibrahim (30) and Zakari
Muhammadi, a Malian.

According to him, Ukwuoma was arrested with 2,010kgs of
codeine cough syrup, Ibrahim with 886kg of Tramadol and Muhammadi with 850kg of
Tramadol.

Other suspects, Earnest Asogwa (34), Ikenna Osuizugba (34),
were apprehended with 582kg of codeine and 252kg of Tramadol respectively.

The arrests and seizures were said to have become possible
following an intelligence report about the activities of the suspects.

“The abuse of psychotropic
drugs like codeine and Tramadol is prevalent among the youth and married women
in the state. It is common to see iced bottles of codeine instead of beverage
drinks in a gathering of young people,” Hamza stated.

Ukwuoma, a secondary school certificate holder and father of
three, is one of the major distributors of codeine cough syrups in the state.

The Imo State indigene told NDLEA officials that he realised
he could make a lot of money dealing in codeine more than any other business.

“The drug sells fast and I was only interested in the profit
because the price of codeine in Kano is twice the cost price in the east. I did
not know how the officers discovered my warehouse where the drugs were kept,” he
said.

Ibrahim who hails from Nasarawa Local Government Area of
Kano State, also said he was attracted by how lucrative the sale of the
Tramadol was in the state.

The Malian, Muhammadi, blamed his friends for his
involvement in drugs.

Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Col. Muhammad
Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) said that the agency will intensify its sensitisation
campaign programmes in the state.

“This is one important way of reducing the demand and supply
for both codeine and Tramadol tablet by youths. The agency will continue to do
its best in protecting the health and future of these youths,” Abdallah stated.

Punch