Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) raided the Emerald Hotel in the Ladipo area of Oshodi, Lagos state, Nigeria, where several intending pilgrims to the ongoing Hajj in Saudi Arabia were caught ingesting wraps of cocaine.
The incident occurred ahead of their flight to the holy land on Wednesday.
In a statement released, the NDLEA identified the arrested suspects as Usman Kamorudeen, Olasunkanmi Owolabi, Fatai Yekini, and a woman, Ayinla Kemi.
The four individuals were lodged in two separate rooms within the hotel, where they had prepared 200 pellets of cocaine weighing 2.20 kilograms to ingest before being apprehended by NDLEA officers.
The Director of Media and Advocacy for the NDLEA, Mr. Femi Babafemi, detailed that the operation led to the recovery of 100 wraps of the Class A substance from each of the two rooms, totaling 200 wraps. Each suspect was reportedly set to swallow 100 wraps of cocaine.
Commending the NDLEA’s Lagos state Command for their successful operation, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Brig-Gen Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), emphasized the agency’s commitment to tracking and apprehending criminal elements. He stated, “The agency will continue to spread its dragnet to track, trace, and apprehend criminal elements who may want to hide under pilgrimage to carry out their nefarious activities capable of denting the image of the country.”
Brig-Gen Marwa further noted the agency’s collaborative efforts with Saudi Arabian counterparts to ensure that the recipients of seized illicit drug consignments in Saudi Arabia are also traced and dealt with accordingly.“
“The Agency will work with our counterparts in Saudi Arabia to ensure that the designated recipients of seized illicit drug consignments in any part of Saudi Arabia are also traced and dealt with accordingly,” He affirmed.
