The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested six suspected members of a drug syndicate linked to the detention of three Nigerians currently held in Saudi Arabia for drug trafficking.
At a press briefing on Monday, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi identified 55-year-old Mohammed Ali Abubakar, alias Bello Karama, as the leader of the syndicate.
The arrests followed petitions to NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) from families of the detained Nigerians, who insisted their relatives were innocent pilgrims framed in the drug trafficking case.
According to Babafemi, the victims — Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and Abdulhamid Saddiq — travelled on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 from Kano to Jeddah via Addis Ababa on August 6, 2025. However, six additional bags, three of which contained illicit substances, were secretly tagged to their names without their knowledge.
“Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi only checked in one 9kg luggage, which never arrived at her destination. Yet she was detained in Jeddah after being linked to extra bags she did not own. The same happened to the two other passengers,” Babafemi explained.
Investigations revealed that members of the syndicate colluded with staff of Skyway Aviation Handling Company to smuggle the drug-laden bags onto the flight. All the bags were traced to Bello Karama, who had checked them in on the same day but travelled separately on Egypt Air instead of Ethiopian Airlines.
So far, six members of the network have been arrested, with four charged to court for arraignment: Ali Abubakar Mohammed (Bello Karama), Abdulbasit Adamu, Murtala Akande Olalekan, and Celestina Emmanuel Yayock.
Babafemi said all the suspects confessed during interrogation:
- Ali Abubakar Mohammed admitted to smuggling in seven bags.
- Celestina Emmanuel Yayock confessed to checking in two of the bags for a fee of ₦100,000.
- Jazuli Kabir, another accomplice, admitted collecting ₦100,000 to check in two more bags.
- The remaining three bags were transported by Bello Karama himself on Egypt Air.
The NDLEA said it has shared its findings with Saudi authorities in a bid to secure the release of the detained Nigerians.
“The NDLEA chairman will engage directly with Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Narcotics Control at an international drug conference. If necessary, he is prepared to travel to Saudi Arabia personally to ensure justice for the detained pilgrims,” Babafemi assured.
