HAJJ DRUG BUST: NDLEA nabs intending pilgrims with cocaine pellets

The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA have arrested four intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2024 Hajj.

They were arrested in a coordinated raid at Emerald Hotel, Ladipo area of Oshodi, Lagos state where they were lodged and caught in the act of ingesting wraps of cocaine ahead of their flight to the holy land on Wednesday 5th June 2024.

This was announced in a statement by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.

The statement said, “Those arrested during the intelligence-led operation include: Usman Kamorudeen, 31; Olasunkanmi Owolabi, 46; Fatai Yekini, 38; and a lady, Ayinla Kemi, 34. The four suspects were lodged in two rooms in the hotel where they had prepared 200 pellets of cocaine weighing 2.20 kilograms to swallow when NDLEA officers stormed their rooms.

“One hundred wraps of the Class A substance were recovered from each of the two rooms bringing the total seizure to 200 wraps. Two suspects were to swallow 100 wraps each.”

The NDLEA boss, Buba Marwa, also stated that the Agency is working with its counterparts in Saudi Arabia to ensure that the designated recipients of seized illicit drug consignments in any part of Saudi Arabia are also traced and dealt with accordingly.