Abuja, Nigeria – In a major victory, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled a dangerous drug trafficking network that exploited hajj pilgrims to smuggle cocaine into Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the agency arrested key cartel leaders in Kano and intercepted multiple drug couriers nationwide.
According to Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director of Media & Advocacy, three syndicate kingpins—Abubakar Muhammad, Abdulhakeem Muhammed Tijjani, and Muhammad Aji Shugaba—were apprehended on May 27 and 28. Their arrests followed the detention of two pilgrims, Ibrahim Umar Mustapha and Muhammad Siraj Shifado, at Kano’s airport on May 26.
Authorities flagged the pilgrims after receiving credible intelligence, and body scans confirmed they had ingested drugs. Consequently, both men excreted 45 wraps of cocaine each, totaling 1.04 kilograms. Further investigations revealed they were working under the cartel leaders’ orders.
Meanwhile, at the same airport, NDLEA agents intercepted 60-year-old businessman Chinedu Leonard Okigbo on May 28. A body scan exposed ingested drugs, and he later expelled 65 cocaine wraps weighing 1.41 kilograms before boarding a flight to Iran.
Major Drug Bust at Port Harcourt Port
In Port Harcourt, NDLEA officers, alongside Customs and other agencies, conducted a joint operation at Onne Port from May 28–30. They seized seven containers holding 825,200 bottles of codeine-based syrup and trodol, worth ₦5.776 billion. Additionally, they confiscated 5.1 million opioid pills, mainly tapentadol, valued at ₦3.57 billion. The total seizure amounted to ₦9.346 billion.
Counterfeit Cash and Cannabis Recovered
On May 30, NDLEA operatives stopped two suspects—Abubakar Hussein, 42, and Sahabi Adamu, 53—along the Kano-Maiduguri road with $900,000 in suspected counterfeit cash. The suspects and money were handed over for further investigation.
Similarly, in Adamawa, officers recovered 390 blocks of skunk cannabis (275.3 kg) from an abandoned Toyota Sienna on May 27.
Notorious Drug Dealer Arrested in Kwara
In Ilorin, Kwara State, NDLEA arrested Alhaja Mutiat Abdul-Fatai, a well-known drug dealer, on May 31. Officers found tramadol, flunitrazepam, and codeine syrup in her residence during the raid.
WADA Advocacy Expands Nationwide
As part of its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, NDLEA conducted sensitization lectures in schools across Katsina, Enugu, Anambra, Kano, and Cross River states. These efforts aim to educate students and staff on the dangers of drug abuse.
NDLEA Leadership Praises Officers
Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), NDLEA’s Chairman, commended the operatives at Kano Airport, Port Harcourt Port, and state commands for their exceptional work. He also applauded nationwide efforts to reduce drug supply and demand.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to eradicating drug trafficking and abuse while ensuring justice for offenders. Through relentless operations and public awareness, NDLEA continues to safeguard Nigeria from the scourge of illicit substances.