Two individuals pretending to be pilgrims on their way to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj have been arrested for attempting to smuggle cocaine, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency revealed on Wednesday.
Brigadier-General Buba Marwa (retd.), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, disclosed the arrests during the opening of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Drug Control meeting in Abuja.
“Just a few days ago, we arrested two would-be pilgrims going to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj. They swallowed cocaine, pretending to be going to the country to pray,” Marwa said.
He warned of a growing pattern where drug traffickers exploit religious pilgrimages to smuggle drugs under the guise of devotion.
“We have had incidents where people were deceived in the name of Hajj. Two years ago, three women were duped. Some individuals offered to pay for their tickets, and visas among others.
“Before they left, they were given a small bag to deliver to a supposed relative in Saudi Arabia. Unknown to them, cocaine had been sewn into the lining of the bag,” he recounted.
Despite funding constraints, Marwa said the NDLEA remains committed to its goals under the National Drug Control Master Plan (2021–2025).
“Instead, we stay resolute, drawing strength from our shared vision, commitment, and collective responsibility to overcome this limitation. Encouragingly, certain developments promise to bolster the achievement of our objectives.
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“One such step is the amendment of the NDLEA Act, which is expected to significantly strengthen the agency’s institutional capacity in drug supply reduction.
“I am pleased to inform this esteemed assembly that the amended Act has been passed by the National Assembly and is currently awaiting presidential assent,” he stated.
Highlighting progress made, Marwa reported that in 2023 and 2024, the NDLEA arrested 31,334 drug offenders, secured 6,839 convictions, and seized over 4.3 million kilograms of various illicit drugs.
The agency also destroyed 426.5 hectares of cannabis farms and provided rehabilitation for 19,033 individuals.
Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, represented by the Director of Public Prosecution, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, expressed optimism that the amended NDLEA Act would further empower the agency.
“The Federal Ministry of Justice has worked together with the NDLEA to ensure that our national legal system effectively supports the drug control efforts of the Agency.
“We are at the final stage of the amendment process for the NDLEA Act, which will significantly enhance the organizational capability of the Agency to combat substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.
“The ministry is also providing appropriate support in the area of proceeds of crime management, which is essential for dismantling the financial networks of drug traffickers,” he said.