Three Nigerian pilgrims detained in Saudi Arabia for alleged drug trafficking have been released following intervention by the Federal Government. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency confirmed their release in Abuja on Wednesday.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said the pilgrims; Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu and Abdulhamid Saddieq, were freed after four weeks in custody. Their detention was linked to luggage tampered with by a trafficking syndicate at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport.
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Babafemi recalled that in August the NDLEA arrested a drug kingpin, Mohammed Abubakar, known as Bello Karama, and five accomplices, accused of planting narcotics in travellers’ bags. Investigators found that additional luggage was secretly tagged in the pilgrims’ names, three of which contained drugs.
NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Buba Marwa, said the release followed engagement with Saudi Arabia’s narcotics agency and support from senior government officials. He added that tighter security checks would be enforced at airports to prevent a repeat of the incident.
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