NDLEA uncovers syndicate that framed Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has uncovered a criminal syndicate at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.

The group is responsible for implicating three Nigerian pilgrims currently detained in Saudi Arabia on drug trafficking charges.

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesman, made this known to journalists in Abuja on Monday.

He noted that the victims detained in Saudi Arabia are Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and Abdulhamid Saddiq who travelled for the lesser hajj on August 6.

All of them he said, we’re “unfortunate to be tagged with six additional bags not belonging to them, three of which were found to contain illicit drugs.”

“The bags containing illicit drug substances intercepted in Saudi Arabia were checked-in against the complainants’ names by members of a criminal syndicate operating in Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport without their knowledge,” he explained.

Babafemi said investigators traced the bags to 55-year-old Mohammed Ali Abubakar, also known as Bello Karama, who worked with Skyway Aviation Handling Company staff to check them in.

“It is clear that Mrs. Maryam Abdullahi and two others who are being detained in Saudi Arabia are victims of circumstance, implicated by the activities of a criminal syndicate,” he said.

Six suspects are already in custody, with four charged to court. Babafemi noted that some confessed to receiving payments to check in the bags, with receipts of the transactions recovered.

He added that NDLEA Chairman Buba Marwa has begun efforts to secure the release of the detained Nigerians.

“Nigeria will never abandon its citizens, especially when the facts clearly show they are victims of criminal conspiracies,” Babafemi said.