• Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
  • E-Book
Search
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
PRNIGERIA PRNigeria News
PRNIGERIA PRNIGERIA
  • Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
  • E-Book
Home National Drug Kingpin, 5 Others Arrested as NDLEA Moves to Clear Innocent Pilgrims...
  • National
  • Security
  • State

Drug Kingpin, 5 Others Arrested as NDLEA Moves to Clear Innocent Pilgrims Detained in Saudi Arabia 

By
Prnigeria
-
August 25, 2025
NDLEA Logo
NDLEA Logo

Drug Kingpin, 5 Others Arrested as NDLEA Moves to Clear Innocent Pilgrims Detained in Saudi Arabia 

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered a criminal syndicate operating at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, responsible for implicating three Nigerian pilgrims in drug trafficking in Saudi Arabia. The breakthrough has led to the arrest of a 55-year-old suspected drug kingpin, Mohammed Ali Abubakar, alias Bello Karama, and five members of his network.

The three Nigerians – Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Mrs. Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddiq – are currently in detention in Jeddah after illicit substances were found in luggage falsely tagged in their names during their lesser hajj pilgrimage earlier this month.

Speaking at a press briefing on Monday in Abuja, NDLEA’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the suspects were arrested after an urgent investigation ordered by the Agency’s Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), following complaints from the detainees’ families.

Findings revealed that members of the syndicate, in collaboration with staff of Skyway Aviation Handling Company, secretly tagged six bags containing drugs to the unsuspecting pilgrims during check-in for Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 from Kano to Jeddah on August 6. Three of the bags were later intercepted by Saudi authorities.

Read Also:

  • Military Repels ISWAP Fighters in Gamboru Ngala
  • FCT Police Clamp Down on Criminal Hideouts, Arrest 62 Suspects
  • Kano Police Arrest 2 Suspected Bandits, Move to Resolve Herders-Farmers Clash in Makoda

“All the bags were traced to Ali Abubakar Mohammed, the ringleader, who checked them in under the victims’ names, but instead travelled on Egypt Air with three other bags,” Babafemi disclosed. He added that the suspects, now in NDLEA custody, have confessed to their roles, with one accomplice admitting to receiving N100,000 to check in two of the bags.

The agency confirmed that four of the suspects, including Abubakar, have already been charged to court, while investigations continue. Evidence obtained by the NDLEA, including financial transfers used to facilitate the trafficking, is expected to form part of the prosecution.

Meanwhile, NDLEA has opened discussions with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) in Saudi Arabia to secure the release of the detained Nigerians. Marwa, who is attending an international drug conference where Saudi officials will be present, is expected to present the findings and, if necessary, travel to the Kingdom to press Nigeria’s case.

Babafemi assured that the agency would not allow innocent citizens to suffer for crimes committed by criminal cartels. “Nigeria will never abandon its citizens, especially when the facts clearly show they are victims of criminal conspiracies,” he said.

The agency also expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Aviation, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Aviation Security Service, and the Department of State Services (DSS) for their collaboration, adding that interim measures have been approved at MAKIA to prevent such incidents in the future.

The arrests mark another major success in NDLEA’s ongoing war against drug trafficking, reinforcing its vow that while no offender is shielded, no innocent citizen will be left to unjust punishment.

By PRNigeria

VISIT OUR OTHER WEBSITES
PRNigeria.com EconomicConfidential.com PRNigeria.com/Hausa/
EmergencyDigest.com PoliticsDigest.ng TechDigest.ng
HealthDigest.ng SpokesPersonsdigest.com TeensDigest.ng
ArewaAgenda.com Hausa.ArewaAgenda.com YAShuaib.com
  • TAGS
  • Drug Kingpin
  • MAKIA
  • NDLEA
  • Saudi Arabia
Previous articleTroops Repel Bandits Attack in Katsina, Rescue Abductees in Kogi
Next articleTrade Facilitation: Nigeria Customs, NACCIMA Strengthen Partnership
Prnigeria
Prnigeria

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

Military troops

Military Repels ISWAP Fighters in Gamboru Ngala

Police Officer

FCT Police Clamp Down on Criminal Hideouts, Arrest 62 Suspects

NPF Headquarters Bompai Kano

Kano Police Arrest 2 Suspected Bandits, Move to Resolve Herders-Farmers Clash in Makoda

Communication is National Security, Not Just Media Work – NIPR President

Customs Hands Over N562 Million Worth of Seized Drugs to NDLEA, Arrests Suspect in Lagos

Anambra Police Launch Probe into Viral Video of Alleged Cult Initiation Involving Minor

Tinubu’s Sudden Military Overhaul Rekindles Coup Fears, Public Reactions Flood Twitter

Anambra Guber Poll: INEC Deploys AI Virtual Assistant to Train Staff

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

‘Tell Nigerians the Truth’: ADC Challenges Tinubu on Military Shake-Up

Oluyede, Shaibu, Aneke, Abbas: Faces, Records and Mission of Tinubu’s New Service Chiefs

COAS Waidi Shuaibu: Profile of The Battlefield Strategist to  Redefine Nigerian Army Leadership

Things To Know About the New Chief of Naval Staff,  Rear Admiral Idi Abbas

Recent Posts

  • Military Repels ISWAP Fighters in Gamboru Ngala
  • FCT Police Clamp Down on Criminal Hideouts, Arrest 62 Suspects
  • Kano Police Arrest 2 Suspected Bandits, Move to Resolve Herders-Farmers Clash in Makoda
  • Communication is National Security, Not Just Media Work – NIPR President
  • Customs Hands Over N562 Million Worth of Seized Drugs to NDLEA, Arrests Suspect in Lagos
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
© 2020 PRNigeria. All Rights Reserved.
Latest News
Military Repels ISWAP Fighters in Gamboru NgalaFCT Police Clamp Down on Criminal Hideouts, Arrest 62 SuspectsKano Police Arrest 2 Suspected Bandits, Move to Resolve Herders-Farmers Clash in MakodaCommunication is National Security, Not Just Media Work – NIPR PresidentCustoms Hands Over N562 Million Worth of Seized Drugs to NDLEA, Arrests Suspect in LagosFG Moves to Strengthen Nigeria’s Global Voice, Counter Negative CampaignsAnambra Police Launch Probe into Viral Video of Alleged Cult Initiation Involving MinorTinubu’s Sudden Military Overhaul Rekindles Coup Fears, Public Reactions Flood TwitterAnambra Guber Poll: INEC Deploys AI Virtual Assistant to Train Staff'Tell Nigerians the Truth’: ADC Challenges Tinubu on Military Shake-UpOluyede, Shaibu, Aneke, Abbas: Faces, Records and Mission of Tinubu’s New Service ChiefsCOAS Waidi Shuaibu: Profile of The Battlefield Strategist to  Redefine Nigerian Army LeadershipThings To Know About the New Chief of Naval Staff,  Rear Admiral Idi AbbasPROFILE: Meet Nigeria's 23rd Air Chief of Staff, AVM Sunday K. AnekeNigeria's Removal from FATF Grey List, a Major Milestone in Economic Reform - Tinubu
X whatsapp