NDLEA Nabs Man Who Planted Drugs On ‘Innocent’ Pilgrims
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested an alleged drug kingpin, Mohammed Ali Abubakar, known as Bello Karama, alongside five others, for allegedly planting illicit substances on three unsuspecting Nigerian pilgrims currently detained in Saudi Arabia for drug trafficking.
This was disclosed on Monday at a press conference addressed by the Agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, alongside the Director of Assets and Financial Investigation, Dr. Abdul Ibrahim, and Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, Theresa Asuquo, at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja.
According to Babafemi, the syndicate was discovered to be behind the unlawful tagging of six bags containing illicit drugs to the names of three innocent Nigerians who travelled for the lesser hajj on August 6, 2025, aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 from Kano to Jeddah via Addis Ababa.
The victims, identified as Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Mrs. Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddiq, were subsequently arrested upon arrival in Saudi Arabia.
“Investigations revealed that the illicit bags were checked in at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) by members of the criminal syndicate without the knowledge or consent of the three complainants,” Babafemi explained.
He said all the bags were traced to Abubakar, the alleged ringleader, who had travelled to Jeddah the same day via Egypt Air instead of Ethiopian Airlines, leaving his accomplices to tag the drug-laden luggage to the pilgrims’ names. Staff of Skyway Aviation Handling Company, who were part of the syndicate, facilitated the fraudulent check-in process.
The agency said six suspects are currently in custody, four of whom—Abubakar, Abdulbasit Adamu, Murtala Akande Olalekan, and Celestina Emmanuel Yayock—have already been charged in court.
Also, the agency said the suspects confessed to their roles, with Celestina admitting to checking in two bags for a fee of N100,000, while another suspect, Jazuli Kabir, acknowledged doing the same for the same amount.
The NDLEA said it is now engaging Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) to ensure that the three Nigerians wrongfully detained are exonerated.
Babafemi disclosed that NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), will meet with GDNC officials during an international drug conference to present Nigeria’s findings.
“If required, the Chairman is prepared to personally travel to Saudi Arabia to pursue this matter to its conclusion. Nigeria will not abandon its citizens, especially when the facts show they are victims of criminal conspiracies,” Babafemi stated.
The NDLEA assured Nigerians of its determination to dismantle drug cartels while protecting innocent citizens from unjust punishment.
It also commended the Ministry of Aviation, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Aviation Security, and the Department of State Services (DSS) for their collaboration in tightening security at MAKIA to prevent a recurrence.
NDLEA Nabs Man Who Planted Drugs On ‘Innocent’ Pilgrims is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
