The Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking says it has arrested more than 380 suspects and secured over 230 convictions since its inauguration on July 22.
The Chairman of the task force, Muhuyi Rimin-Gado, disclosed this at a News conference on Tuesday in Kano.
Rimin-Gado said the task force conducted joint operations across the state, leading to the dismantling of drug joints and criminal hideouts and recovery of various illicit drugs and dangerous weapons.
He said about 870,000 capsules of Pregabalin were also seized from a pharmaceutical company over alleged diversion for illicit use.
The chairman said two rubber solution dealers were convicted for exposing about 43 underage children involved in street scavenging to intoxicants.
He said the children had been medically examined and were receiving counselling and treatment, while efforts were underway to reunite them with their families.
Rimin-Gado said about 125 persons had been referred to the Kano Reformatory Institute, Kiru, for rehabilitation, resulting in the facility reaching full capacity.
He said the state government had provided an additional rehabilitation facility in Tofa Local Government Area to expand the programme.
According to him, the task force’s target is to remove 10,000 youths from the streets, rehabilitate and equip them with skills for reintegration into society.
He warned owners of tricycles and other vehicles against allowing their vehicles to be used for criminal activities, saying such vehicles would be liable to forfeiture.
Rimin-Gado called for stronger collaboration among security agencies, traditional and religious institutions, civil society organisations and the public to combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking in the state.
The chairman urged members of the public to provide timely and relevant information to the task force to support efforts to make communities safer.(NAN)
