The Police Command in Katsina State has secured the conviction of 18 persons for drug-related offences, with sentences ranging from three months to five years' imprisonment.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Katsina.
Sadiq-Aliyu said the convictions were secured in seven drug-related cases prosecuted at the Chief Magistrate Courts I and IV, Katsina, between July 6 and Aug. 28.
He said the convictions followed diligent prosecution by the Command’s Legal Section, in line with the commitment of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Olatunji Disu, to tackling crime and criminality across the country.
According to him, Muhammad Shafi’u, 31, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment without an option for possessing and selling dangerous drugs.
He added that Aminu Ahmed, 25, was sentenced to six months imprisonment, with an option of a N100,000 fine, for possessing dangerous drugs, and four years imprisonment without an option of a fine for selling Indian hemp.
Sadiq-Aliyu said Ahmed was arrested with 25 wraps of Indian hemp and 20 sachets of Pregabalin capsules.
He further disclosed that Muhammad Lawal, 30, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment without an option for possessing and selling dangerous drugs.
“Similarly, Sulaiman Abdullahi, 29, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with an option of a N100,000 fine, for possessing dangerous drugs, while Musa Lawal, 25, received separate sentences for offences involving Indian hemp and dangerous drugs.
Sadiq-Aliyu added that Musa Abdullahi and 10 others were each sentenced to three months' imprisonment, with an option of a N15,000 fine, for unlawful possession of Indian hemp.
He also said Talmizu Aliyu, 35, was sentenced to five years imprisonment, with an option, while Aliyu Abdullahi, 30, received four years imprisonment without an option for offences involving the possession and sale of Indian hemp and dangerous drugs.
He explained that the Commissioner of Police in Katsina, Mr Ali Umar-Fage, commended the judiciary for the speedy dispensation of justice and praised police prosecutors for their diligence.
Umar-Fage reaffirmed the command’s commitment to sustaining the fight against illicit drugs and substance abuse across the state.
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