The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Buba Marwa (Rtd), revealed on Wednesday that two individuals who allegedly ingested cocaine under the guise of travelling for the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia were recently intercepted by the agency.
Marwa made the revelation during the inaugural session of the Ministerial Committee on Drug Use Control, highlighting the troubling trend of drug traffickers exploiting religious pilgrimages to carry out their illegal activities. According to him, the two suspects were posing as devout Muslims preparing to fulfil a sacred religious obligation, while concealing illicit drugs in their bodies.
“Just a few days ago, we apprehended two intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia who had swallowed cocaine. They claimed to be going for Hajj,” Marwa disclosed, underlining the seriousness of the crime.
The NDLEA chairman expressed deep concern over the increasingly frequent use of the Hajj pilgrimage as a smokescreen for international drug trafficking. He noted that this is not an isolated incident, pointing out a similar case from two years ago, in which unsuspecting women fell prey to a drug trafficking syndicate under the pretense of performing religious duties.
“We’ve seen it repeatedly happen where unsuspecting people are deceived under the pretext of Hajj travel,” he said. “Two years ago, three women were defrauded. Some people offered to pay for their tickets, visas, and other logistics. Before departure, they were handed a small bag to deliver to someone believed to be a relative in Saudi Arabia — someone they had never met. Cocaine was sewn into the bag.”
Despite the NDLEA’s commitment to stemming the tide of drug-related crimes, Marwa acknowledged that financial limitations have posed significant challenges to the full realization of the National Drug Control Master Plan (2021–2025). Nevertheless, he reaffirmed the agency’s resolve to continue its anti-drug efforts with diligence and determination.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and avoid being lured by offers that seem too good to be true, especially when associated with sacred journeys such as the Hajj.
What you should know
Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), NDLEA boss, has warned of a recurring pattern where drug traffickers exploit the religious Hajj pilgrimage for smuggling operations.
His statement came after two suspects heading to Saudi Arabia were arrested for ingesting cocaine. The agency, despite limited resources, remains committed to combating such crimes.
