The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended four individuals attempting to smuggle 2.2 kilograms of cocaine to Saudi Arabia under the guise of a Hajj pilgrimage. The suspects, aged between 31 and 46, were arrested at the Emerald Hotel in Lagos State after ingesting 200 pellets of cocaine to evade detection.
The NDLEA recovered 200 wraps of cocaine, with each wrap weighing approximately 11 grams. The agency’s chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the Lagos State Command for their diligence and praised the agency’s efforts in disrupting the illegal drug trade.
The NDLEA has vowed to continue collaborating with international partners, including Saudi Arabian authorities, to trace and apprehend individuals involved in drug trafficking. The agency will also work to identify and prosecute the criminal network behind this attempted smuggling operation and their cohorts in Saudi Arabia.
