Police in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State have arrested 14 people suspected of dealing in the prescription drug tramadol as part of an ongoing crackdown on the illegal sale of narcotics, a police spokesperson said.
Colonel Madut Ngong Aleu, the state police spokesperson, told Radio Tamazuj that the suspects were arrested in Aweil town between Aug. 2 and Aug. 5 during operations by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
“We want to inform the public that the Criminal Investigation Department in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State has arrested three suspected dealers in tramadol, recovering three large boxes of the drug,” Ngong said.
He said tramadol is prohibited under state regulations unless it is prescribed by a qualified medical doctor for legitimate medical use.
Ngong said a separate case involving 11 suspects, including four women, is already before the courts. Two of the accused have been acquitted, while the remaining defendants are expected to continue appearing in court, with the next hearing scheduled for Monday.
Authorities did not specify the total quantity of tramadol seized.
Wek Garang, executive director of the Peace Culture Association (PCA), welcomed the government’s anti-drug campaign, saying the abuse of tramadol and other illicit substances was harming young people across the country.
“The trafficking and abuse of tramadol and other harmful drugs have negatively affected young people,” Garang said. “The government’s efforts to curb their circulation are essential to protecting the country’s youth, who are an important part of South Sudan’s future.”
Police in the state have stepped up efforts in recent months to combat the illegal trade in prescription medicines and other narcotics amid growing concerns over substance abuse among young people.
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