NDLEA Busts Airport Drug Syndicate Behind Saudi Pilgrims’ Detention

NDLEA Busts Airport Drug Syndicate Behind Saudi Pilgrims’ Detention

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a 55-year-old drug kingpin, Mohammed Ali Abubakar, also known as Bello Karama, alongside five members of his syndicate operating at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) in Kano.

Their arrest follows revelations that they orchestrated the trafficking of illicit substances which led to the wrongful detention of three Nigerian pilgrims in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

This development was announced during a press briefing held at the NDLEA National Headquarters in Abuja on Monday.

The briefing was led by the Agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, accompanied by Dr. Abdul Ibrahim, Director of Assets and Financial Investigation, and Theresa Asuquo, Director of Prosecution and Legal Services.

Detailing how the syndicate implicated the three unsuspecting pilgrims, the NDLEA explained that its Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), received petitions from the families of the detained individuals.

The complaints concerned the arrest of their relatives in Saudi Arabia after completing their lesser hajj pilgrimage, based on allegations of drug trafficking. This prompted the agency to launch a thorough investigation to uncover the truth.

According to the NDLEA, the three Nigerians currently held in Saudi Arabia, Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Mrs. Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddiq, had boarded Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 from Kano to Jeddah via Addis Ababa on August 6, 2025. Unbeknownst to them, six extra bags were tagged to their names, three of which contained illicit drugs.

“Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi while embarking on this flight, only checked in one luggage weighing 9 kilograms on the 6th day of August, 2025, which incidentally did not arrive with her to her destination,” the agency stated.

“Her husband was only informed of the arrival of their luggage on 16th August, a day before the date of their departure from Jeddah, which was to be on the 17th day of August, 2025.”