Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested four intending Hajj pilgrims for attempting to smuggle cocaine to Saudi Arabia.
The suspects were apprehended at the Emerald Hotel in the Ladipo area of Oshodi, Lagos State, while preparing to ingest wraps of cocaine ahead of their flight to the holy land.
The suspects, identified as Usman Kamorudeen, 31; Olasunkanmi Owolabi, 46; Fatai Yekini, 38; and Ayinla Kemi, 34, were found with 200 pellets of cocaine weighing 2.20 kilograms.
NDLEA officers stormed their hotel rooms and recovered 100 wraps of the substance from each room. According to the agency, two of the suspects were set to swallow 100 wraps each.
Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, commended the Lagos State Command for the successful operation.
He emphasized that the agency is committed to tracking, tracing, and apprehending individuals attempting to use the pilgrimage to carry out illegal activities that could tarnish Nigeria’s image.
Marwa also stated that the NDLEA would collaborate with their counterparts in Saudi Arabia to trace and apprehend the intended recipients of the illicit drug consignments in the Kingdom.
In related news, the Saudi Ministry of Health has approved the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to operate two main clinics for Nigerian pilgrims in Makkah.
The Executive Chairman of NAHCON, Malam Jalal Arabi, announced the approval, which was received by Dr. Abubakar Isma’eel, Head of NAHCON’s Medical Mission for the 2024 Hajj Season.
The approved clinics are located in the Masfala/Kudai and Shari’e Al-Mansour areas and will serve as the medical head offices for Nigerian pilgrims. NAHCON is also awaiting approval to operate three additional outpost clinics situated within pilgrims’ hotel clusters to aid accessibility.
Arabi expressed optimism that the outposts would receive full approval within the next 48-72 hours. The locations of the proposed outposts are at Nasarawa, Ogun/Oyo, and Borno pilgrim houses in Makkah.
The GPS coordinates of these outpost locations will be made available to Nigerian pilgrims shortly after approval to ensure easy access to medical services during their pilgrimage.
The arrests of the four intending Hajj pilgrims highlight the ongoing efforts of the NDLEA to curb drug trafficking and protect the nation’s image.
Meanwhile, the establishment of clinics in Makkah demonstrates the commitment of NAHCON to providing comprehensive medical support to Nigerian pilgrims during the Hajj season.
