In Sokoto State, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency's Sokoto State Command has confiscated 17,568 bottles of codeine syrup and 490.7 kg of suspected cannabis.

This was revealed by Mr. Mustapha Gidado, the State Commander, during a press conference in Sokoto on Tuesday.

According to Gidado, 198 cartons of codeine syrup were stopped by Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) officials along Illela Road in Sokoto State, while 54 cartons were seized by NDLEA officials.

According to him, there were 236 cartons of codeine syrup in all, with a total capacity of 756.8 litres. Each bottle is priced at N13,000.

The commander added that the seized cannabis was contained in 47 bags stored by one Monday Effiong, an indigene of Cross River, residing in the Tamaje Area in Sokoto metropolis.

Gidado said Effiong was arrested with the bags intact in his room and would soon be charged in court, adding that each bag of cannabis was being sold at about N180,000.

He said the items were arrested following a tip-off from a good Samaritan.

He asked the locals to keep helping the NDLEA and other organisations protect society from crime in all its manifestations.

He also praised Mr. Aliyu Isa-Ndako, the Nigerian Customs Service's Sokoto/Zamfara Area Comptroller, for turning over the confiscated goods to the NDLEA on Monday.

The commander added that enforcement would reach all facets of society and reiterated the agency's dedication to eradicating drug misuse and trafficking in the state.

The command has stepped its lobbying and sensitisation efforts to inform locals about the risks of drug abuse, Gidado continued.

The commander also pledged to increase efforts to eradicate drug misuse and other related crimes in the state and praised Governor Ahmad Aliyu for his important support of the agency's operations.