Operatives from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have apprehended four intending pilgrims for allegedly planning to smuggle cocaine ahead of their flight on Wednesday.
According to Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA, the arrests followed an intelligence-led operation.
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NDLEA officials raided Emerald Hotel in the Ladipo area of Oshodi, Lagos State, where the suspects were staying.
The arrested individuals include Usman Kamorudeen (31), Olasunkanmi Owolabi (46), Fatai Yekini (38), and Ayinla Kemi (34).
The suspects were found in two hotel rooms where they had prepared 200 pellets of cocaine weighing 2.20 kilograms for ingestion.
Each room contained 100 wraps of the substance, totaling 200 wraps of cocaine.
Two of the suspects were set to swallow 100 wraps each.
Brig Gen Mohamed Marwa (Retd), the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, praised the Lagos State Command for its successful operation.
He emphasized the agency’s commitment to tracking and apprehending those attempting to use pilgrimage as a cover for drug trafficking, thus protecting the country’s image.
Marwa also noted that the NDLEA would collaborate with Saudi Arabian authorities to identify and prosecute the intended recipients of the illicit drugs in Saudi Arabia.
