The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended six suspected drug traffickers, including a 55-year-old alleged kingpin, Mr Mohammed Ali Abubakar, also known as Bello Karama, in connection with a smuggling network that led to the arrest of three innocent Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.
The agency disclosed the arrests at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, August 25.
NDLEA spokesperson, Mr Femi Babafemi, said the suspects were responsible for placing drug-laden luggage under the names of three unsuspecting passengers — Ms Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Ms Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and Mr Abdulhamid Saddiq — on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Kano to Jeddah on August 6, 2025.
“Investigations revealed that the bags containing drugs were checked in against the complainants’ names by members of a criminal network operating at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport without their knowledge,” Mr Babafemi said.
According to NDLEA findings, Ms Abdullahi checked in a single nine-kilogramme bag, which failed to arrive with her in Jeddah but was delivered 10 days later. Despite this, she and two other pilgrims were detained after luggage tied to their names was found with narcotics.
The agency said Mr Karama, identified as the ringleader, had checked in seven bags on the same day but boarded an Egypt Air flight to Jeddah, leaving his contraband tagged to the pilgrims.
Other suspects in custody include Abdulbasit Adamu, Murtala Akande Olalekan, and Celestina Emmanuel Yayock. NDLEA confirmed that four of the six suspects have already been charged in court.
Evidence recovered during the investigation includes bank transfer receipts and confessional statements. Celestina admitted checking in two bags for a payment of N100,000, while another suspect, Mr Jazuli Kabir, confessed to doing the same for an identical fee.
NDLEA Chairman, Mr Mohamed Buba Marwa, said discussions were underway with Saudi authorities to secure the release of the detained pilgrims, adding that he would personally travel to the Kingdom if necessary to present the agency’s findings.
“Nigeria will never abandon its citizens, especially when facts clearly show they are victims of criminal conspiracies,” Mr Marwa said.
The agency commended the Ministry of Aviation, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Aviation Security (AVSEC), and the Department of State Services (DSS) for their collaboration, noting that temporary security measures had been introduced at the Kano airport to close gaps exploited by the syndicate.
