Drug kingpin, 5 others in NDLEA custody over arrest of 3 Nigerians in Saudi Arabia

A notorious drug trafficker, Mohammed Ali Abubakar, also known as Bello Karama, and five members of his syndicate have been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for their role in implicating three innocent Nigerian pilgrims currently detained in Saudi Arabia on drug trafficking allegations.

The NDLEA disclosed the arrests at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, with the Agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, confirming that Abubakar and his accomplices had used unsuspecting travellers to traffic drugs through Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA).

The case came to light after three Nigerians — Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Mrs. Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddiq — were arrested in Jeddah earlier this month when six extra bags, three of which contained illicit substances, were tagged to their names without their knowledge. The NDLEA said its investigation revealed that the bags were smuggled onto their flight by the syndicate in collaboration with corrupt airport handling staff.

Abubakar, identified as the mastermind, checked in the drug-laden bags on August 6 through Ethiopian Airlines while himself travelling on Egypt Air. According to the NDLEA, his accomplices, including airport staff, received payments to secretly tag the bags in the names of the pilgrims. One suspect confessed to receiving ₦100,000 for the operation, while receipts of payments totaling ₦200,000 were traced to the gang leader.

Four of the suspects, including Abubakar, have already been charged to court, while the others remain in custody. All have reportedly made confessional statements.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) has initiated dialogue with Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) to secure the release of the three Nigerians, describing them as “victims of circumstance.” Marwa is expected to meet Saudi officials during an international drug conference and has expressed readiness to travel to the Kingdom if necessary.

The Agency reaffirmed its commitment to protecting innocent Nigerians while intensifying its crackdown on drug syndicates. It commended the Ministry of Aviation, FAAN, AVSEC, and the DSS for their cooperation and said new measures are being implemented at MAKIA to prevent similar incidents in the future.