The Kano Strategic Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a 45-year-old suspect, Ashiru Bala, over the alleged possession of 1,499 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup.

This was disclosed in a statement released on Thursday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Sadiq Muhammad-Maigatari, in Kano. He cited the Commandant of the NDLEA Kano Strategic Command, Dahiru Yahaya-Lawal, as confirming that the suspect was taken into custody at his residence in Lambu community, located in Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State, on February 25, 2026, following an intelligence-driven operation.

According to Yahaya-Lawal, security operatives tracked and intercepted the suspect shortly after he transported the large quantity of codeine syrup from Abuja to Kano. The consignment, investigators revealed, was intended for delivery to a local distributor in the state for illegal consumption.

During interrogation, the suspect reportedly admitted that he had been involved in the transportation of prohibited substances for approximately two years. He further revealed that before engaging in the illegal activity, he worked in township services in Abuja for about four years. Bala also confessed to receiving significant financial compensation for each shipment he delivered, acknowledging that he was fully aware that the substances he transported were illicit.

The NDLEA commander noted that the arrest underscores the agency’s ongoing determination to safeguard communities from the harmful impact of illegal drug distribution and abuse. He explained that intelligence-led enforcement operations remain a critical component of the command’s strategy, particularly during periods when demand for such substances tends to rise, including festive seasons.

Yahaya-Lawal assured the public that the command would continue intensifying its operations against drug trafficking networks, stressing that individuals involved in such illegal activities would be tracked down and prosecuted.

He further explained that the arrest was carried out as part of “Operation Ramadan Mubarak,” an initiative launched by the NDLEA to reinforce efforts aimed at creating a drug-free society. The operation aligns with the renewed national campaign against drug abuse spearheaded by the NDLEA Chairman, Mohamed Buba Marwa, a retired brigadier-general.