Nigerian Pilgrims Framed in Saudi Arabia Drug Case; NDLEA Nabs Airport Syndicate

ABUJA—In a major breakthrough, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 55-year-old drug kingpin, Mohammed Ali Abubakar (aka Bello Karama), and five members of his syndicate operating at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA). The arrests follow a detailed investigation that revealed the syndicate was responsible for framing three innocent Nigerian pilgrims on a lesser hajj, who are currently being held in Jeddah for alleged drug trafficking.

The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed the findings at a press conference on Monday, detailing how the criminal gang implicated the unsuspecting travelers. The three Nigerians—Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Mrs. Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddiq—were detained by Saudi authorities after illicit drugs were discovered in luggage that was secretly checked in under their names.

How the Syndicate Operated
According to the NDLEA, the three pilgrims boarded an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Kano to Jeddah via Addis-Ababa on August 6, 2025. Unbeknownst to them, the syndicate tagged six additional bags to their names. Three of these bags were later found to contain illicit drugs upon arrival in Saudi Arabia.

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The NDLEA’s investigation traced the bags to syndicate leader Ali Abubakar Mohammed, who checked them in on the same Ethiopian Airlines flight. Ironically, Abubakar did not travel with the pilgrims; instead, he boarded an Egypt Air flight on the same day.

The NDLEA’s findings revealed that members of the Skyway Aviation Handling Company, who were part of the syndicate, were responsible for tagging the bags without the pilgrims’ knowledge or consent. This calculated act led directly to the arrest and detention of the innocent Nigerians, who have been held in Jeddah for a crime they had no part in.

Confessions and Charges
The NDLEA has confirmed that six members of the syndicate are now in custody. Four of them—including Abubakar Mohammed, Abdulbasit Adamu, Murtala Akande Olalekan, and Celestina Emmanuel Yayock—have been charged and are awaiting arraignment. The suspects have made confessional statements, with Abubakar admitting to bringing in seven luggage, while others confessed to checking in bags for a fee. The agency has also recovered receipts for money transfers used to pay members of the criminal network.

Marwa Seeks Saudi Cooperation
In light of these findings, the NDLEA is now spearheading a diplomatic effort to secure the release of the detained Nigerians. The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), is set to meet with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) in Saudi Arabia. He plans to present the evidence gathered by the NDLEA to exonerate the three victims and seek the cooperation of Saudi authorities to ensure they receive the justice they deserve.

The NDLEA emphasized its commitment to protecting innocent citizens from such criminal conspiracies and thanked the Ministry of Aviation, FAAN, AVSEC, and the DSS for their collaborative efforts. The agency assured the public that it would not rest until the matter is resolved and the affected Nigerians are freed.