NDLEA Arrests Four Intending Pilgrims with Cocaine at Lagos Hotel

SPOTLIGHTS

• The suspects were planning to ingest 100 wraps of cocaine each
• The operation was intelligence-led
• The NDLEA is committed to stopping drug trafficking, especially attempts to use religious events as cover
• The agency will collaborate with Saudi Arabian authorities to track down recipients of the drug consignment

From Godwin Tsa, Abuja

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has raided Emerald Hotel in the Ladipo area of Oshodi, Lagos State, where they caught individuals intending to participate in the ongoing Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia attempting to ingest wraps of cocaine. The operation took place on Wednesday, 5 June 2024, ahead of the pilgrims’ flight to the holy land.

Those arrested by NDLEA operatives during the intelligence-led operation include Usman Kamorudeen, 31; Olasunkanmi Owolabi, 46; Fatai Yekini, 38; and Ayinla Kemi, 34. 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 before NDLEA officers stormed their rooms.

One hundred wraps of the Class A substance were recovered from each room, bringing the total seizure to 200 wraps. Two suspects were planning to swallow 100 wraps each.

Commending the Commander, officers and men of the Lagos State Command of the NDLEA, who conducted the operation, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Brigadier General Mohamed Marwa (Retd), 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.”

The NDLEA boss also stated that “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.”