NDLEA Arrests Saudi-Bound Pilgrims With Cocaine, Dismantles Drug Syndicate in Kano
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered a major drug trafficking plot involving two Nigerian pilgrims en route to Saudi Arabia for Hajj. These individuals were caught at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport after being found with cocaine concealed inside their bodies. According to NDLEA’s detailed report, the suspects had ingested the drugs and were intercepted based on credible intelligence.
This alarming case, which has stirred national concern, is part of a broader crackdown by the NDLEA on international drug trafficking rings. The agency has also dismantled a powerful syndicate operating in Kano, arrested multiple drug lords, and seized billions worth of narcotics across different states. Here’s a full breakdown of this major anti-narcotics operation.
Two Pilgrims Caught Smuggling Cocaine to Saudi Arabia
According to a press release by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, two Nigerian pilgrims were intercepted just before boarding a flight to Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The suspects were identified as Ibrahim Umar Mustapha and Muhammad Siraj Shifado.
“The interdiction of the intending pilgrims at the NDLEA final screening point at the Kano airport was based on credible intelligence. When they were taken for scanning, the result confirmed ingestion of illicit substances,” Babafemi stated.
After undergoing a body scan at the airport, both individuals tested positive for drug ingestion. The agency then placed them on excretion observation, a process where suspects are monitored until they pass any ingested drugs naturally. Eventually, each suspect excreted 45 wraps of cocaine, bringing the combined total to 90 pellets weighing 1.04 kilograms.
This shocking discovery raised immediate suspicions that the pilgrims were part of a larger drug trafficking network.
NDLEA Busts Drug Cartel Sponsoring Hajj Pilgrims as Couriers
Following the arrest of the two drug mules, NDLEA investigators launched an urgent follow-up operation to identify the masterminds behind the smuggling attempt. Within days, they had successfully dismantled a syndicate responsible for sponsoring unsuspecting or willing Hajj pilgrims to act as drug couriers.
Babafemi disclosed:
“Investigation soon unraveled their sponsors as leaders of a notorious drug trafficking network, which specialises in trafficking illicit drugs to Saudi Arabia. A swift follow-up operation was carried out, and the trio of Abubakar Muhammad, Abdulhakeem Muhammed Tijjani, and Muhammad Aji Shugaba were arrested on May 27 and 28, 2025, in Kano.”
These arrests mark a significant breakthrough in NDLEA’s war against drug trafficking through religious pilgrimage routes. The agency is now intensifying scrutiny of all international travel, especially during religious seasons when traffickers exploit large movements of people.
60-Year-Old Businessman Arrested With 65 Wraps of Cocaine En Route to Iran
In another disturbing case, NDLEA operatives at Kano Airport arrested Chinedu Leonard Okigbo, a 60-year-old businessman, as he attempted to board Qatar Airways Flight QR1432 to Iran on Wednesday, May 28. A body scan confirmed he had also ingested illicit drugs.
He was immediately placed on excretion watch, and eventually, he excreted 65 wraps of cocaine weighing a total of 1.41 kilograms.
This arrest further highlights the growing use of elderly Nigerians in drug trafficking operations, likely under the belief that they would arouse less suspicion at international checkpoints.
Massive Drug Bust at Port Harcourt Port: Codeine and Opioids Worth Billions Seized
Between May 28 and May 30, a joint operation involving NDLEA, Nigeria Customs Service, and other security agencies led to the seizure of a massive consignment of drugs at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers State.
The search operation targeted seven watch-listed containers, which upon inspection, were found to contain:
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825,200 bottles of codeine-based syrup and Trodol
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5,100,000 pills of opioids, mainly Tapentadol 225mg
According to the NDLEA, the total street value of these seized substances is over ₦9.2 billion, with ₦5.7 billion attributed to the codeine-based syrup and ₦3.57 billion to the opioid pills.
This bust represents one of the largest seizures of pharmaceutical narcotics in recent Nigerian history and underlines the growing threat posed by the illegal distribution of addictive prescription drugs.
$900,000 Counterfeit Cash Intercepted in Kano
On Friday, May 30, NDLEA officers patrolling the Kano–Maiduguri Road made another significant arrest. Two men, Abubakar Hussein (42) and Sahabi Adamu (53), were found in possession of $900,000 in suspected counterfeit cash.
Babafemi confirmed the development:
“The suspects and the exhibit will be transferred to the appropriate agency for further investigation.”
The source and intended use of the counterfeit currency are still under investigation, but this discovery adds another layer of criminal sophistication to the week’s series of arrests and seizures.
Cannabis Haul in Adamawa: 390 Blocks of Skunk Recovered
In Adamawa State, NDLEA officers recovered 390 compressed blocks of skunk (a potent strain of cannabis), weighing a total of 275.3 kilograms. The drugs were discovered inside a parked Toyota Sienna vehicle with registration number YLA-408GG, along the Ngurore–Yola Road on Tuesday, May 27.
The driver was not immediately apprehended, but investigations are ongoing to trace the owner of the vehicle and the destination of the illicit drugs.
Notorious Female Drug Dealer Arrested in Ilorin, Kwara State
In another successful raid, NDLEA operatives in Ilorin, Kwara State, arrested a well-known female drug dealer named Alhaja Mutiat Abdul-Fatai on Saturday, May 31.
She was caught at Oja Oba area of the city with various quantities of:
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Tramadol
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Flunitrazepam (a sedative)
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Codeine-based syrup
Her arrest is part of the NDLEA’s expanded focus on tackling domestic drug distribution networks that contribute to addiction and violent crime in local communities.
NDLEA’s Nationwide Crackdown Signals No Tolerance for Drug Crimes
The NDLEA’s recent series of operations across multiple Nigerian states — including Kano, Rivers, Adamawa, and Kwara — sends a clear message: drug trafficking and abuse will not be tolerated, regardless of social, religious, or economic status.
From smugglers posing as pilgrims to businessmen turned mules, the agency is dismantling trafficking routes and exposing criminal syndicates with ruthless efficiency.
This national crackdown is a powerful warning to individuals and groups exploiting religious pilgrimages, cargo routes, or local markets for illegal drug trade. The agency’s swift actions, including airport arrests, port inspections, and road patrol seizures, highlight its capacity to protect the country from both local and international drug threats.
Conclusion: NDLEA Steps Up War Against Drug Smuggling in Nigeria
As Nigeria battles rising cases of drug addiction and international smuggling, the work of the NDLEA becomes even more crucial. The arrest of pilgrims smuggling cocaine, the dismantling of a hajj drug cartel, and the seizure of over ₦9 billion worth of drugs in one week alone reflects the scale of the challenge — and the agency’s determination to confront it head-on.
With these developments, NDLEA has once again proven its vigilance and commitment to securing Nigeria’s future from the dangers of drug abuse and trafficking.
