The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended four Nigerian pilgrims attempting to smuggle illicit drugs to Saudi Arabia. The suspects were arrested during a raid on their hotel rooms in Lagos, where NDLEA operatives recovered 200 pellets of cocaine, weighing 2.2 kilograms.
In a brief video shared on the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria’s (NAHCON) X handle, the suspects were shown counting the cocaine pellets, which they had intended to ingest in order to evade detection. The arrested individuals, identified as Fatai Yekini, Ayinla Kemi, Usman Kamorudeen, and Olasunkanmi Owolabi, were caught on Wednesday just before they were about to ingest the drugs at their hotel.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the agency’s operation in a statement, revealing that the suspects had prepared the cocaine for ingestion to bypass security checks.
NDLEA Chairman, Buba Marwa, praised the Lagos command for its successful operation and reiterated the agency’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks attempting to exploit religious pilgrimages for drug smuggling. He also stressed the importance of working with Saudi Arabian authorities to trace and prosecute those responsible for receiving illicit drug shipments.
This bust comes amid continued warnings from NAHCON urging pilgrims to refrain from transporting prohibited substances to the holy land.