The Kano State Taskforce Committee on Motor Parks and Other Public Spaces has handed over confiscated illicit drugs valued at N1.5 billion to the Kano State Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency (DMCSA) for safe keeping pending destruction.
Presenting the seized items, the Chairman of the Committee, Major Adamu Abubakar Usman (Rtd), said the drugs were confiscated from dealers operating at Dangwaro Market. He disclosed that the haul included fake, adulterated, counterfeit, expired and other harmful pharmaceutical products capable of endangering public health.
Major Usman assured residents that the Committee would not relent in its mandate to safeguard public health and enforce compliance with established standards. He noted that the Taskforce is working closely with market leadership and relevant stakeholders to identify, confiscate and prevent the circulation of illicit drugs within the state.
“This is a powerful reminder that our surveillance systems are working, and that those who seek to endanger public health will not go unchecked,” he warned, urging traders and drug handlers to strictly adhere to regulatory guidelines and encouraging citizens to purchase medicines only from reputable and authorized sources.
Receiving the confiscated items on behalf of the Kano State Government, the Director-General of DMCSA, Pharm. Gali Sule, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to protecting the health and lives of residents.
“On behalf of the Kano State Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency (DMCSA), I formally receive these confiscated fake, adulterated, counterfeit and expired medicines. The sight of these products is deeply concerning,” he said.
“These dangerous products are not just illegal commodities — they are silent threats. They undermine treatment outcomes, fuel drug resistance, erode public trust in our health system, and, most tragically, cost innocent lives. Let this seizure send a clear and uncompromising message: DMCSA, together with our Taskforce Committee and security partners, will continue to pursue, expose and prosecute all those involved in the distribution of unsafe and unauthorized medicines.”
The Director-General commended the Taskforce Committee for its dedication, vigilance and professionalism, noting that its efforts have prevented potentially devastating consequences for countless families.
He further called on importers, distributors, retailers and healthcare providers to uphold the highest standards of compliance and integrity, while urging members of the public to report suspicious products to the appropriate authorities.
Among the seized items were 199 cartons of Benzhexol Hydrochloride BP 5mg tablets, five cartons of CINBUL tablets, Levofloxacin 500mg, and other assorted pharmaceutical products.
The handover underscores Kano State Government’s intensified efforts to curb the circulation of substandard and counterfeit medicines and strengthen public health protection across the state.
