NDLEA Busts Drug Syndicate Sponsoring Hajj Pilgrims with Cocaine, Arrests Three Kingpins in Kano

In a major breakthrough, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have dismantled a sophisticated drug trafficking syndicate that sponsored Hajj pilgrims as drug mules to Saudi Arabia. The cartel’s operations were exposed after the arrest of three kingpins in Kano, following the earlier interdiction of two Saudi-bound pilgrims.

The pilgrims, identified as Ibrahim Umar Mustapha and Muhammad Siraj Shifado, were intercepted on Monday, May 26, 2025, during outward clearance for Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 940 at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport. Acting on credible intelligence, NDLEA officers subjected them to a body scan that confirmed ingestion of illicit substances. Under excretion observation, each suspect expelled 45 wraps of cocaine, totaling 90 pellets and weighing 1.04 kilograms.

Their arrest triggered a swift follow-up operation that led to the apprehension of the cartel’s masterminds—Abubakar Muhammad, Abdulhakeem Muhammed Tijjani, and Muhammad Aji Shugaba—on May 27 and 28 in Kano. These individuals were identified as leaders of a notorious drug trafficking network specializing in smuggling narcotics to the Middle East under the guise of religious pilgrimage.

Iran-Bound Businessman Caught with 65 Wraps of Cocaine

In a separate but related case, NDLEA operatives at the Kano airport intercepted a 60-year-old businessman, Chinedu Leonard Okigbo, during the outward clearance for Qatar Airways flight QR1432 en route to Iran. Upon suspicion, Okigbo was subjected to a body scan which revealed that he had ingested illicit drugs.

Placed under close observation, Okigbo excreted a total of 65 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.41 kilograms. His arrest underscores the persistent attempts by individuals and networks to exploit international flights as conduits for drug trafficking, and highlights the NDLEA’s intensified surveillance and intelligence-driven operations at Nigeria’s exit points.

The agency has reaffirmed its commitment to cutting off international drug routes and dismantling the financial and logistical networks that support such illicit activities, regardless of the perpetrators’ age or social standing.

Massive Drug Interception at Rivers Ports: N9.3 Billion Worth of Opioids Seized

A major haul of illegal drugs was intercepted at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex (PHPC), Onne, Rivers State, during a joint security operation involving NDLEA operatives, the Nigeria Customs Service, and other agencies. Between May 28 and 30, seven watch-listed containers were examined, resulting in the seizure of a staggering quantity of opioids.

The operation led to the recovery of 825,200 bottles of codeine-based syrup and trodol, with a street value of N5.776 billion, and 5.1 million pills of opioids—particularly tapentadol 225mg—valued at N3.57 billion. The total estimated street value of the confiscated drugs amounts to N9.346 billion, marking one of the largest pharmaceutical drug interceptions in recent Nigerian history.

This seizure highlights the strategic shift by drug traffickers towards exploiting Nigeria’s seaports to bring in pharmaceutical-grade narcotics. The NDLEA noted that such drugs pose a greater threat due to their accessibility and abuse potential, especially among young Nigerians.

More Arrests and Seizures: Counterfeit Dollars and Cannabis in the North

NDLEA operatives continued their operations across other parts of the country, leading to additional arrests and seizures. On Friday, May 30, along the Kano-Maiduguri highway, two suspects—Abubakar Hussein, 42, and Sahabi Adamu, 53—were intercepted with $900,000 in suspected counterfeit currency. The suspects, along with the fake dollars, are to be handed over to the relevant financial crimes agency for further investigation.

Also on May 27, a parked Toyota Sienna vehicle with registration number YLA-408GG was discovered along the Ngurore–Yola road in Adamawa State, containing 390 compressed blocks of skunk cannabis, weighing 275.3kg. The vehicle was believed to have been abandoned by smugglers upon sensing the presence of NDLEA officers.

In Kwara State, a notorious female drug dealer, Alhaja Mutiat Abdul-Fatai, was arrested on Saturday, May 31, at the Oja Oba area of Ilorin. Various quantities of illicit drugs including tramadol, flunitrazepam, and codeine syrup were recovered from her residence and sales points.

NDLEA’s Advocacy Efforts and Commendation from Leadership

While enforcement operations intensify, the NDLEA has also continued its drug demand reduction campaign through the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative. Throughout the past week, sensitization lectures were held in various schools including Government Day Senior Secondary School, Kwasarawa in Katsina; Corpus Christi College, Achi, Enugu; and Epignosis Standard College, Onitsha, among others.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the dedication and professionalism of the agency’s officers across the Kano, PHPC, Kwara, and Adamawa Commands. He commended their success in balancing enforcement with community outreach and advocacy aimed at curbing drug demand.

General Marwa reaffirmed the agency’s resolve to pursue drug traffickers relentlessly, stressing that no religious, social, or economic disguise would shield criminal elements from the long arms of justice. He reiterated that the NDLEA’s efforts remain focused on ensuring a drug-free Nigeria through coordinated interdiction and sensitization strategies.