The police in Jigawa has arrested a suspected illicit drug peddler with 100 parcels of hemp.

The police spokesman in the state, SP Abdu Jinjiri, confirmed the arrest to newsmen in Dutse on Wednesday.

Jinjiri said that the suspect, aged 25, was arrested by police enforcing border closure at the Kano-Jigawa border in Kijawal Village in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa.

He said that the suspect, a resident of Sabon Garin Yaya Village in Taura Local Government Area of the state, was arrested in a Peugeot 406 heading to Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano.

“The police at Kijawal border – between Jigawa and Kano – deployed by the Jigawa Police Command to curb the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, stopped a Peugeot 406 with registration number FGE 387 AA driven by a 25-year-old man of Sabon Garin Yaya, Taura LGA,” he said.

Jinjiri said that while searching the vehicle, the police discovered four bags each containing 25 parcels of dried leaves suspected to be hemp.

The spokesman added that the parcels were valued at N750,000.

“The driver was apprehended and the vehicle impounded.

“During interrogation, the driver said that the vehicle and the hemp were given to him by his master who is a big hemp dealer, now at large, to deliver it to other vendors in Gezawa LGA, Kano State, who are also at large,” he said.

According to him, efforts are being made to arrest the fleeing suspects.

The spokesman said that the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Usman Gomna, has directed the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to transfer the case to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for prosecution.