By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES have arrested a 55-year-old kingpin, Mohammed Ali Abubakar, also known as Bello Karama, along with five members of his syndicate at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) in Kano.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said the group was responsible for the shipment of illicit substances that led to the detention of three Nigerian pilgrims in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on allegations of drug trafficking.
This was disclosed during a press briefing at the NDLEA National Headquarters in Abuja by the Agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, who addressed journalists alongside the Director of Assets and Financial Investigation, Dr. Abdul Ibrahim, and the Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, Theresa Asuquo.
According to the NDLEA, the incident came to light after three families petitioned the Agency’s Chairman and Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), over the arrest of their relatives in Saudi Arabia.
The detained Nigerians – Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Mrs. Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddiq – had travelled for the lesser hajj pilgrimage but were implicated when bags containing illicit substances were tagged to their names without their knowledge.
The Agency explained that the pilgrims boarded Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 from Kano to Jeddah via Addis-Ababa on 6th August 2025.
Each of them travelled with personal luggage, but six additional bags were fraudulently linked to their identities at MAKIA.
Three of those bags were later discovered to contain illicit substances, resulting in their arrest by Saudi authorities.
Providing details, the NDLEA stated that Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi checked in only one piece of luggage weighing nine kilograms.
That luggage did not arrive with her in Jeddah, and her husband was only informed of its arrival 10 days later. Shortly after, she was detained, with the same pattern applying to the two other victims.
Investigations traced the bags to Abubakar, who allegedly coordinated the operation.
The NDLEA revealed that he checked in the bags on the same day the three pilgrims travelled but instead flew on a separate Egypt Air flight.
Members of staff of the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) were also implicated for tagging the bags in the names of the pilgrims without their consent.
The Agency confirmed that six members of the syndicate are in custody, with four already charged to court.
Those charged include Abubakar, Abdulbasit Adamu, Murtala Akande Olalekan, and Celestina Emmanuel Yayock. Others arrested include Jazuli Kabir, who admitted to receiving N100,000 to check in two bags.
Celestina also confessed to checking in two bags for N100,000, while Abubakar admitted bringing in seven bags. Bank transfer records were recovered to confirm the payments.
NDLEA officials emphasised that the evidence gathered demonstrates that the detained Nigerians are victims of criminal manipulation and not traffickers.
The Agency is engaging Saudi authorities through the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) to secure their release.
Babafemi stated that the NDLEA Chairman is scheduled to meet with GDNC representatives during an international drug conference.
He added that, if necessary, Marwa is prepared to travel to Saudi Arabia personally to present the findings and ensure the detained Nigerians are cleared.
The Agency reaffirmed its stance on tackling illicit drug trafficking while protecting innocent citizens.
“There are no sacred cows in our enforcement duties, as seen in the number of high-profile arrests, seizures, convictions, and forfeitures recorded.
However, we will not allow the innocent to be punished for crimes they did not commit,” the statement read.
The NDLEA acknowledged the support of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Aviation Security (AVSEC), and the Department of State Services (DSS) in introducing interim security measures at MAKIA to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
