Dare Babalola
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended officials of the Nigerian Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (SAHCO) at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport for allegedly helping a drug syndicate plant illicit drugs in the luggage of travelers bound for Saudi Arabia.
According to NDLEA’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, the suspects, including 55-year-old Mohammed Ali Abubakar, aka Bello Karama, Abdulbasit Adamu, Murtala Akande Olalekan, and Celestina Yayock, were arrested after the agency received petitions from three families whose relatives were detained in Saudi Arabia for alleged drug trafficking.
The affected pilgrims, Maryam Abdullahi, Abdullahi Aminu, and Abdulhamid Saddiq, were said to have boarded Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 from Kano to Jeddah via Addis Ababa on August 6, 2025, unaware that six extra bags, three of which contained illicit drugs, were checked in against their names.
The NDLEA spokesperson explained that investigations revealed that the suspects had checked in the bags and tagged them in the names of the unsuspecting pilgrims. The agency has already charged four of the six suspects in court and is working to secure the release of the detained Nigerians from Saudi authorities.
NDLEA Chairman Buba Marwa is reportedly attending an international drug conference where he will meet with Saudi authorities to present their findings. The agency has assured that efforts are underway to free the detained Nigerians.
