NDLEA busts syndicate sponsoring pilgrims with cocaine to hajj, arrests three
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have uncovered and dismantled a syndicate that sponsors pilgrims to serve as couriers to move cocaine to Saudi Arabia during pilgrimage.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi on Sunday in Abuja.
He stated that the recovery followed the arrest of leaders of the cartel in Kano.
Mr Babafemi said that the kingpins were arrested on Tuesday and Wednesday in Kano.
This, he said, was a follow-up to the arrest of two pilgrims at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, (MAKIA) Kano on May 26.
This, he added, was during the outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airline flight ET 940 to Jedda, Saudi Arabia.
He said, “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. 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 unravelled their sponsors as leaders of a notorious drug trafficking network, which specialises in trafficking illicit drugs to Saudi Arabia. A swift follow-up operation was carried out, and they were arrested.’’
In a related development, NDLEA operatives at the Kano airport on Wednesday, intercepted a 60-year-old businessman during the outward clearance of Qatar Airways flight QR1432 to Iran.
Mr Babafemi said that his body scan confirmed he ingested illicit substances because of which he was placed on excretion observation during which he excreted 65 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.41kg.
In another operation in Kano, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Kano-Maiduguri Road Friday, intercepted two men with 900,000 dollars cash suspected to be counterfeit.
Mr Babafemi said that the suspects and the exhibit would be transferred to the appropriate agency for further investigation.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
States
Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future
The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
States
Terrorists surrender 12 rifles, release 10 kidnap victims in Kwara
The report said the rescued victims and recovered weapons were in military custody.
Heading 5
Ex-police officer to be castrated for child sex abuse in Louisiana, U.S.
District Judge Kevin Kimball sentenced Mr Williams to three life terms in prison and ruled that he would be castrated.
Politics
Obi is incorruptible, says Kwankwaso
Mr Kwankwaso said the attribute is key and needed in the governance of the nation.
Politics
Katsina PDP guber candidate pledges to end unemployment
The candidate said that if elected, he would prioritise policies that would enable young people to secure employment.
States
Zamfara: Abducted children, women rescued after 22 days in bandits’ den
Mr Abubakar said the police, the State Security Service and local hunters swiftly mobilised and carried out a well-coordinated rescue operation.
States
Gov Bago mourns Niger APC welfare secretary
The governor described Mr Wakil’s death as a great loss not only to the state APC but also to the national party structure.
