Troops of the Special Task Force, Operation Safe Haven, OPSH maintaining peace in Plateau and parts of Southern Kaduna State and Bauchi State, say they have intercepted some illicit substances suspected to be cannabis sativa worth N6.5 million.

Maj. Ishaku Takwa, the Media Officer of OPSH, announced this in a statement on Thursday in Jos, adding that the troops also recovered 1,610 Pregabalin capsules.

He explained that the troops recovered the illicit substances at one of its checkpoints on Akwanga-Gwantu road in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

“Troops of OPSH bursted another drug syndicate and recovered 315 blocks of substances suspected to be cannabis estimated to be about N6.5 million.

“The substances and Pregabalin capsule were concealed in a car marked AAA 348 BT,” he said.

He said the troops killed one of the suspects who attempted to escape.

“The driver of the Toyota Avensis refused to stop for search at our check point and on pursuit, troops shot at the vehicle.

“Other Items recovered from the car include, two fake military and Department of State Services ID cards bearing the deceased name, Motorola Radio and N10,000 cash,” he said.

He said that relatives of the deceased had been identified and his remains had been recovered through court process for burial.

Takwa also said that a driver of a Ford Edge Bus abandoned his vehicle on sighting troops at a checkpoint on Fadan Karshi road in Sanga Local Government Area

“The troops also recovered 1,610 Pregabalin capsule suspected to be illicit drugs without NAFDAC registration number from an abandoned ford vehicle marked ABC 318 LU.

“Troops conducted search on the vehicle and discovered large quantity of Pregabalin capsule, 300mg, suspected to be illicit drugs,”he said.

Meanwhile, the suspected substances have been handed over to the Plateau command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

-NAN