By Ade Ayodele
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested four individuals planning to travel to Saudi Arabia for Hajj with cocaine consignments in Lagos.
Mr. Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesman, announced this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
Babafemi stated that NDLEA operatives raided Emerald Hotel in Ladipo, Oshodi, Lagos State, on June 5.
He reported that the intending pilgrims were caught ingesting wraps of cocaine in preparation for their flight to the holy land.
Those arrested 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 when NDLEA officers stormed their rooms. 100 wraps of the Class A substance were recovered from each of the two rooms, bringing the total seizure to 200 wraps. Two suspects were to swallow 100 wraps each,” he said.
Babafemi quoted NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, who commended the commander, officers, and men of the Lagos State command for conducting the operation.
Marwa stated that the agency would continue to extend its efforts to track, trace, and apprehend criminal elements, including those attempting to use pilgrimage as a cover for their illicit activities, which could tarnish the country’s image.
“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,” he said.