By Thompson ABISOLA
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized suspected hard drugs worth N7 million in Gombe State.
The NCS Comptroller, Federal Operations Unit, Zone D, Bauchi, Mr Peters Olugboyega, disclosed this on Wednesday at the handing over of the drugs to officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Bauchi.
Olugboyega said the drugs were confiscated at a store in Gombe by the Joint Operatives of the NCS, Abuja Headquarters and the Federal Operations Unit, Zone D, Bauchi. He said the unit had increased the tempo of its seizures following increased information and intelligent report from the customs intelligence.
Olugboyega said the seized drugs included 840 packets of tramadol and 4, 437 packets of diazepam.
According to him, on Sept. 13, 2018, the operatives of the NCS Abuja Headquarters Information Patrol left the FCT and invited the operatives of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone D, Bauchi, on a Joint Credible Information Patrol of suspected hard drugs being deposited in a store around Tudun Wada area in Gombe state.
“The Joint Operatives raided the store and were able to evacuate hard drugs comprising of tramadol 120mg and diazepam, all controlled drugs,” he said
Olugboyega said a suspect was arrested during the raid and was in the custody of the service.
“These are controlled drugs; you can imagine the havoc they may cause to our youths if they find their way into our society.
“As of today, the Federal Government is worried about the damaging effects these hard drugs are causing in our society.
“Therefore, the task to salvage the youth and even some adults of this country from the menace of drug peddlers is a collective one and non-negotiable,” Olugboyega said.
In his remarks, the NDLEA representative Malam Nasiru Babura, said the agency would carry out a thorough investigation before taking the suspect to court.
He said the NDLEA is worried about the activities of drug peddlers and users as the 2019 general elections approaches pointing out however, that the agency had plans to reduce the circulation of drugs at all channels.
Babura, warned that any person caught importing; supplying, transporting or abusing drugs would be prosecuted.
