The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have arrested two pilgrims heading to Saudi Arabia for the 2025 hajj for allegedly ingesting 90 wraps of cocaine.
A statement on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said the suspects were intercepted at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano on May 26 during outward clearance for an Ethiopian Airline flight to Jeddah.
Babafemi said both men tested positive for ingesting illicit substances and were placed under excretion observation.
Babafemi said further investigation led to the arrest of three kingpins believed to be part of a drug syndicate that specialises in sponsoring pilgrims to traffic drugs during hajj.
“The interdiction of the intending pilgrims at the NDLEA final screening point at the Kano airport was based on credible intelligence. When they were taken for scanning, the result confirmed ingestion of illicit substances,” the statement reads.
“They were subsequently placed on excretion observation during which they excreted 45 wraps of cocaine each, bringing the total for both to 90 pellets with a total weight of 1.04kg.
“Investigation soon unraveled their sponsors as leaders of a notorious drug trafficking network, which specializes in trafficking illicit drugs to Saudi Arabia.
“A swift follow-up operation was carried out, and the trio of Abubakar Muhammad, Abdulhakeem Muhammed Tijjani, and Muhammad Aji Shugaba were arrested on Tuesday 27th and Wednesday 28th May 2025 in Kano.
“This network targets unsuspecting or complicit pilgrims to move drugs to Saudi Arabia, exploiting the pilgrimage season.”
In a separate operation, a 60-year-old businessman, Chinedu Leonard Okigbo, was also arrested at the Kano airport while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to Iran. He reportedly excreted 65 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.41kg.
Babafemi added that NDLEA officers also seized N9.3 billion worth of codeine syrup and opioid pills in Rivers state during a joint examination of seven containers at the Port Harcourt ports complex between May 28 and 30.
Other arrests during the week included the seizure of $900,000 suspected counterfeit cash in Kano, the discovery of 275.3kg of cannabis in Adamawa, and the arrest of a notorious female drug dealer in Ilorin, Kwara state.
Buba Marwa, the NDLEA chairman, commended officers across the states for their efforts in curbing both the supply and demand sides of drug abuse in the country.
