NDLEA Arrests Two Hajj-Bound Pilgrims for Alleged Cocaine Smuggling

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended two individuals en route to Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, allegedly for ingesting and attempting to smuggle cocaine.

Brigadier General Buba Marwa (Retd), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, disclosed the arrests during the inauguration of a meeting of the Ministerial Committee on Drug Use Control. He expressed concern over the recurring exploitation of religious pilgrimages by drug traffickers.

“Just a few days ago, we apprehended two intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia who had swallowed cocaine. They claimed to be going for Hajj,” Marwa stated.

Marwa highlighted a pattern where criminal networks deceive unsuspecting individuals under the guise of sponsoring their pilgrimage, only to use them as drug couriers. He recounted a previous incident where three women were defrauded by individuals who offered to pay for their Hajj expenses and handed them bags containing cocaine to deliver in Saudi Arabia.

Despite financial constraints affecting the full implementation of the National Drug Control Master Plan (2021–2025), Marwa reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to combating drug trafficking and abuse. He emphasized the importance of vigilance and collaboration to prevent the exploitation of religious journeys for illicit activities.

The NDLEA continues to work closely with international counterparts to ensure that individuals involved in such trafficking networks are identified and prosecuted, safeguarding the integrity of religious pilgrimages and the nation’s global reputation.