NDLEA Arrests Intending Pilgrims With Cocaine Consignments In Lagos
Four intending pilgrims have been arrested by the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), as they planned to ingest wraps of cocaine ahead of their flight on Wednesday.
Recounting the gripping tale of the arrest, Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy for the NDLEA, revealed in a statement from Abuja on Thursday that the agency’s operatives conducted a daring raid on Emerald Hotel in the Ladipo area of Oshodi, Lagos State, where some of the suspects lodged.
Those arrested during the intelligence-led operation include, Usman Kamorudeen, 31; Olasunkanmi Owolabi, 46; Fatai Yekini, 38; and a lady, 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.
One hundred wraps of the Class A substance were recovered from each of the two rooms, bringing the total seized cocaine to 200 wraps. Two suspects were to swallow 100 wraps each.
Commending the Commander, officers and men of the Lagos state Command of NDLEA, which conducted the operation, Chairman of the Agency, Buba Marwa said the agency will continue to spread its dragnet to track, trace and apprehend criminal elements, who may want to hide under pilgrimage, to carry out their nefarious activities capable of denting the image of the country.
The NDLEA boss also stated that the Agency will work with their 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.
