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By Abdullahi Abubakar
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA has arrested two- woud- be pilgrams for trying to smugge cocaine.
This much was disclosed by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA,Brig.-Gen.Buba Marwa (retd.), on Wednesday.
The NDLEA boss said the two individuals were arrested attempting to smuggle cocaine while posing as pilgrims en route to Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj.
Speaking during the opening ceremony of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Drug Control meeting in Abuja, Marwa disclosed that the suspects had ingested the illicit drug, pretending to be devout Muslims embarking on the holy pilgrimage.
“Just a few days ago, we arrested two would-be pilgrims going to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj. They swallowed cocaine, pretending to be going to the country to pray,” he said.
Marwa expressed concern over the disturbing trend of criminal networks exploiting religious sentiments, especially during Hajj, to traffic drugs internationally.
“We have had incidents where people were deceived in the name of Hajj.
Two years ago, three women were duped. Some individuals offered to pay for their tickets, and visas among others. Before they left, they were given a small bag to deliver to a supposed relative in Saudi Arabia. Unknown to them, cocaine had been sewn into the lining of the bag,” he recounted.
