NDLEA Nabs Kano Airport Drug Ring Behind Pilgrims’ Arrest in Saudi

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a notorious drug kingpin, Mohammed Ali Abubakar, alias Bello Karama (55), along with five members of his syndicate, for masterminding a drug trafficking scheme that implicated three innocent Nigerian pilgrims currently detained in Saudi Arabia.

NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, announced the arrests at a press conference on Monday, alongside the Director of Assets and Financial Investigation, Dr. Abdul Ibrahim, and the Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, Theresa Asuquo, at the Agency’s national headquarters in Abuja.

According to the Agency, the case came to light after families of the detained pilgrims petitioned NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), over the arrest of their relatives in Jeddah on allegations of drug trafficking.

The victims, Maryam Hussain-Abdullahi, Abdullahi Bahijja-Aminu, and Abdulhamid Saddiq, had embarked on a lesser hajj pilgrimage via Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 from Kano on August 6, 2025.

They were later detained by Saudi authorities after six additional bags, three of which contained illicit drugs, were falsely tagged to their names without their knowledge.

“Investigations revealed that the bags were checked in by members of a criminal syndicate operating at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA). These bags were traced directly to the syndicate leader, Ali Abubakar Mohammed, who on the same day travelled to Jeddah on Egypt Air after planting the bags on Ethiopian Airlines under the pilgrims’ identities,” Babafemi disclosed.

The NDLEA further revealed that staff of Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO), who are members of the syndicate, facilitated the fraudulent baggage tagging.

So far, six suspects are in custody, with four already charged to court: Mohammed Ali Abubakar (aka Bello Karama), Abdulbasit Adamu, Murtala Akande Olalekan, and Celestina Emmanuel Yayock.

Babafemi said they all confessed to their roles. “Ali admitted to checking in seven bags, while Celestina confessed to handling two of them for a ₦100,000 payment, part of which she passed on to another accomplice, Jazuli Kabir, who also admitted checking in two bags. Evidence of bank transfers between the suspects has been recovered.

In light of its findings, NDLEA confirmed it is in talks with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) in Saudi Arabia to secure the release of the innocent pilgrims. The NDLEA boss, who is en route to an International Drug Conference to be attended by a GDNC delegation, is expected to present Nigeria’s evidence and press for their exoneration.

“If necessary, the Chairman is prepared to travel to Saudi Arabia personally to pursue this case to a logical conclusion. Nigeria will never abandon its citizens when clear evidence shows they are victims of criminal conspiracies,” Babafemi assured.

The Agency commended the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, FAAN, AVSEC, and the DSS for their collaboration and for interim security measures put in place at MAKIA to prevent a recurrence.

NDLEA reiterated its commitment to tackling substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking while ensuring that innocent citizens do not suffer unjustly.