What began as a routine response to a road accident near the Tamburawa Bridge checkpoint in Kano State has turned into a major drug bust, following the discovery of a large quantity of cannabis by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
According to a video obtained by The News Chronicle on Thursday, the incident occurred last Saturday when a Volkswagen Golf car and a truck were involved in a collision close to the checkpoint. NDLEA officers stationed nearby rushed to the scene to assist the victims of the crash.
During the rescue effort, one of the individuals attempted to flee the scene but was quickly apprehended by the officers. The injured driver of the Golf car was also taken to a nearby hospital for urgent medical treatment.
Speaking on the development, the NDLEA Kano State Command’s senior officer, Yassin Sadiq Mai Gatari, explained that the officers’ intervention soon revealed more than just a traffic mishap.
“When our men got to the scene, their priority was to save lives. However, while searching the vehicle, they discovered a large quantity of illicit drugs hidden inside. It was at that point we realized the accident was linked to drug trafficking,” Gatari stated.
Upon inspection, NDLEA operatives uncovered 150 compressed bricks of marijuana, along with three large bags of the same substance, concealed inside the vehicle. The discovery confirmed suspicions that the car had been used to transport drugs.
Authorities further disclosed that the vehicle had been driving against traffic at the time of the collision, which may have caused the accident. The car has since been impounded and is currently in NDLEA custody as investigations continue into the source and intended destination of the illicit drugs.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying efforts against drug trafficking and warned that traffickers are increasingly resorting to desperate means, including disguising their activities under emergencies such as accidents.
This latest seizure adds to a growing list of major drug interceptions by NDLEA operatives across the country, as the agency continues its nationwide campaign against narcotics trafficking and abuse.
