Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested two Saudi-bound pilgrims at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, after discovering that both suspects had ingested wraps of cocaine.
The arrests were part of an intelligence-led operation aimed at curbing drug trafficking through pilgrimage routes.
According to a statement released on Sunday by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, both suspects were subjected to excretion observation following a positive scan result for illicit drug ingestion. The observation process led to the excretion of 45 wraps of cocaine each, totaling 90 pellets weighing 1.04 kilograms.
Babafemi explained, “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. They were subsequently placed on excretion observation during which they excreted 45 wraps of cocaine each.”
The agency revealed that further investigation into the case led to the discovery of a drug trafficking syndicate using pilgrims as drug mules. The NDLEA swiftly moved to dismantle the network, arresting key members of the cartel identified as Abubakar Muhammad, Abdulhakeem Muhammed Tijjani, and Muhammad Aji Shugaba between May 27 and 28, 2025.
In a related operation, NDLEA operatives at the Kano airport on May 28 intercepted a 60-year-old businessman, Chinedu Leonard Okigbo, during the outward clearance for a Qatar Airways flight to Iran. A body scan revealed he had ingested cocaine. Subsequent excretion yielded 65 wraps of cocaine with a total weight of 1.41 kilograms.
In Port Harcourt, NDLEA officers, in collaboration with Customs and other security personnel, conducted a joint operation between May 28 and May 30 at the Onne Port Complex. The operation led to the seizure of seven containers filled with illicit drugs. The haul included 825,200 bottles of codeine-based syrup and trodol, valued at ₦5.7 billion, along with 5.1 million pills of opioids—mainly tapentadol 225mg—worth ₦3.57 billion.
Meanwhile, in another bust along the Kano–Maiduguri road on May 30, operatives intercepted two men, Abubakar Hussein (42) and Sahabi Adamu (53), in possession of \$900,000 in suspected counterfeit cash. NDLEA confirmed that both suspects and the cash would be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation.
Also, on May 27, a patrol team along the Ngurore–Yola road in Adamawa State recovered 390 compressed blocks of skunk cannabis weighing 275.3 kilograms from a parked Toyota Sienna with registration number YLA-408GG.
In Kwara State, operatives arrested a well-known female drug dealer, Alhaja Mutiat Abdul-Fatai, at Oja Oba area of Ilorin on May 31. A variety of opioids, including tramadol, flunitrazepam, and codeine-based syrup, were seized during the raid.
These series of operations demonstrate the NDLEA’s intensified efforts to clamp down on drug trafficking networks operating within and beyond Nigeria’s borders.
See the full statement below:
NDLEA busts syndicate sponsoring pilgrims with cocaine to hajj, arrests 3 kingpins in Kano
. Nabs 2 Saudi-bound pilgrims, businessman going to Iran for ingesting 155 cocaine wraps; intercepts N9.3billion worth of opioids in Rivers
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered and dismantled a syndicate that sponsors hajj pilgrims who also serve as couriers to move cocaine to Saudi Arabia during pilgrimage. This followed the arrest of leaders of the cartel in Kano.
The arrest of the kingpins: Abubakar Muhammad, Abdulhakeem Muhammed Tijjani, and Muhammad Aji Shugaba on Tuesday 27th and Wednesday 28th May 2025 in Kano was a follow-up to the arrest of two pilgrims: Ibrahim Umar Mustapha and Muhammad Siraj Shifado at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano on Monday 26th May during the outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airline flight ET 940 to Jedda, Saudi Arabia. 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. They were subsequently placed on excretion observation during which they excreted 45 wraps of cocaine each, bringing the total for both to 90 pellets with a total weight of 1.04kg.
Investigation soon unraveled their sponsors as leaders of a notorious drug trafficking network, which specializes 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 Tuesday 27th and Wednesday 28th May 2025 in Kano.
In a related development, NDLEA operatives at the Kano airport on Wednesday 28th May intercepted a 60-year-old businessman Chinedu Leonard Okigbo during the outward clearance of Qatar Airways flight QR1432 to Iran. His body scan confirmed he ingested illicit substances as a result of which he was placed on excretion observation during which he excreted 65 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.41kg.
At the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers state, no fewer than seven watch-listed containers were positioned for joint examination by NDLEA officers, men of Custom Service and other security agencies between Wednesday 28th and Friday 30th May, during which 825,200 bottles of codeine based syrup and trodol worth Five Billion Seven Hundred and Seventy Six Million Four Hundred Thousand Naira Only (N5,776,400,000) in street value were seized while a total of Five Million One Hundred Thousand (5,100,000) pills of opioids especially tapentadol 225mg worth Three Billion Five Hundred and Seventy Million Naira Only (N3,570,000,000) were recovered. This brings the combined street value of the opioids to Nine Billion Three Hundred and Forty-Six Million Four Hundred Thousand Naira Only (N9,346,400,000.00).
In another operation in Kano, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Kano- Maiduguri road Friday 30th May intercepted the duo of Abubakar Hussein, 42, and Sahabi Adamu, 53, with Nine Hundred Thousand US dollars ($900,000) cash suspected to be counterfeit. The suspects and the exhibit will be transferred to the appropriate agency for further investigation.
While a total of 390 compressed blocks of skunk, a strain of cannabis weighing 275.300kg were recovered from a parked Toyota Sienna vehicle marked YLA-408GG along Ngurore – Yola road, Adamawa state on Tuesday 27th May, NDLEA operatives in Kwara on Saturday 31st May arrested a notorious female drug dealer, Alhaja Mutiat Abdul-Fatai at Oja Oba area of Ilorin where various quantities of opioids including tramadol, flunitrazepam and codeine-based syrup were seized from her.
The War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, social advocacy activities by NDLEA Commands equally continued across the country in the past week. Some of them include: WADA sensitization lecture delivered to students and staff of Government Day Senior Secondary School, Kwasarawa, Katsina; Corpus Christi College, Achi, Enugu; Epignosis Standard College, Onitsha, Anambra; Government Girls Secondary School, Utai, Wudil LGA, Kano; and Government Girls Secondary School, Calabar, Cross River, among others.
While commending the officers and men of MAKIA, PHPC, Kano, Kwara, and Adamawa Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) equally praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for pursuing a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
Femi Babafemi
Director, Media & Advocacy
NDLEA Headquarters Abuja
Sunday 1st June 2025
What you should know
The NDLEA’s recent operations, which uncovered drug trafficking attempts during pilgrimage preparations and disrupted a major syndicate in Kano, underline the agency’s expanded surveillance efforts.
Arrests were made across multiple states, with illicit drugs worth billions of naira recovered, including counterfeit currency, highlighting the ongoing threats posed by organized drug networks.
