Hajj 2024: NDLEA arrests intending pilgrims with cocaine in Lagos

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have raided Emerald Hotel, Ladipo area of Oshodi, Lagos state where some intending pilgrims to the ongoing hajj in Saudi Arabia were lodged and caught in the act of ingesting wraps of cocaine ahead of their flight to the holy land on Wednesday.

An NDLEA statement on Friday said those arrested during the intelligence-led operation include: Usman Kamorudeen, Olasunkanmi Owolabi, Fatai Yekini and a lady, Ayinla Kemi.

The four suspects were lodged in two rooms in the hotel where they had prepared 200 pellets of cocaine weighing 2.20 kilograms to swallow when NDLEA officers stormed their rooms.

The Director, Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA, Mr. Femi Babafemi said in the statement that, 100 wraps of the Class A substance were recovered from each of the two rooms bringing the total seizure to 200 wraps. Two suspects were to swallow 100 wraps each.

Commending the Commander, officers and men of the Lagos state Command of the NDLEA, which conducted the operation, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Brig-Gen Mohamed Marwa (Rtd) said 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

According to the NDLEA boss, “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.”

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