NDLEA Smashes Airport Drug Syndicate That Implicated Three Innocent Pilgrims in Saudi Detention

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a notorious drug kingpin, Mohammed Ali Abubakar, popularly known as Bello Karama, along with five members of his syndicate, for masterminding a drug trafficking plot that led to the detention of three innocent Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.

The Agency disclosed this at a press briefing on Monday, August 25, 2025, at its National Headquarters in Abuja, addressed by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, alongside the Director of Assets and Financial Investigation, Dr. Abdul Ibrahim, and Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, Theresa Asuquo.

According to the NDLEA, the syndicate had checked in bags containing illicit substances under the names of three unsuspecting Nigerians—Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Mrs. Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddiq—who had travelled from Kano to Jeddah via Addis Ababa on August 6, 2025, aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940.

“Investigations confirmed that the drugs were planted without the knowledge or consent of the pilgrims by members of the syndicate operating at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA),” Babafemi revealed.

The NDLEA explained that while the detained pilgrims checked in only their personal luggage, syndicate members working with Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) criminally tagged six additional bags—three of which contained narcotics—to their tickets.

Further probes traced the luggage to the syndicate leader, Ali Abubakar Mohammed (Bello Karama), who deliberately chose to travel on Egypt Air the same day while ensuring his contaminated bags were loaded on Ethiopian Airlines under the pilgrims’ identities.

Six suspects, including Bello Karama, Abdulbasit Adamu, Murtala Akande Olalekan, and Celestina Emmanuel Yayock, are now in NDLEA custody, with four already charged to court. The Agency disclosed that Celestina confessed to checking in two bags for a N100,000 payoff, while another suspect, Jazuli Kabir, admitted doing the same for the same amount. Payment records were also recovered as evidence.

In light of the findings, NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has initiated high-level diplomatic engagements with Saudi authorities. He is expected to meet representatives of the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) at an upcoming international drug conference, to present Nigeria’s evidence and secure the release of the three innocent detainees.

“Mrs. Maryam Abdullahi and the two others are clearly victims of a criminal conspiracy. Nigeria will never abandon its citizens, especially when the facts exonerate them,” Babafemi stressed.

The Agency reassured Nigerians of its zero-tolerance stance against drug trafficking while pledging not to allow innocent people to suffer unjustly. It also commended the Ministry of Aviation, FAAN, AVSEC, and the DSS for their swift collaboration and interim measures put in place at MAKIA to prevent a recurrence.