The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested four intending pilgrims to the ongoing hajj in Saudi Arabia with 200 wraps of cocaine in Lagos State.

The intending pilgrims were arrested after the NDLEA operatives raided Emerald Hotel in the Ladipo area of Oshodi, Lagos State, where the intending pilgrims were lodged and caught ingesting wraps of cocaine ahead of their flight to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, June 5, 2024.

Those arrested during the intelligence-led operation include Usman Kamorudeen, 31; Olasunkanmi Owolabi, 46; Fatai Yekini, 38; and a lady, Ayinla Kemi, 34.

NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Thursday, disclosed that 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 anti-narcotic officers stormed their rooms.

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Babafemi said 100 wraps of the 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 stated.

Commending the anti-narcotic officers who conducted the operation, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), said the agency will continue to spread its dragnet to trace and apprehend criminals who may want to hide under pilgrimage to carry out nefarious activities capable of denting the image of the country.“

“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,” Marwa added.

The Star