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NDLEA Apprehends Prospective Pilgrims Carrying Cocaine in Lagos |
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested four individuals intending to embark on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia with cocaine concealed in their possession in Lagos.
Mr. Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA spokesperson, made this announcement in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja.
According to Babafemi, NDLEA operatives conducted a raid at the Emerald Hotel in Ladipo, Oshodi, Lagos State, on June 5.
The intending pilgrims were apprehended while ingesting wraps of cocaine in preparation for their flight to the holy land.
The four suspects were lodged in two hotel rooms where they had prepared 200 pellets of cocaine, weighing a total of 2.20 kilograms, to swallow. When NDLEA officers stormed their rooms, they recovered 100 wraps of the Class A substance from each room, bringing the total seizure to 200 wraps. Two suspects were assigned to swallow 100 wraps each.
Retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, the NDLEA Chairman, commended the commander, officers, and men of the Lagos State command who conducted the operation.
Marwa emphasized that the agency would continue to expand its efforts to track, trace, and apprehend criminal elements, including those who might exploit pilgrimage as a cover for their illicit activities, which could tarnish the country's image.
Furthermore, the NDLEA will collaborate with its counterparts in Saudi Arabia to ensure that the designated recipients of seized illicit drug consignments in any part of Saudi Arabia are also identified and dealt with accordingly.
