The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended two individuals accused of attempting to smuggle cocaine into Saudi Arabia under the guise of performing the Hajj pilgrimage.
Chairman of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (Rtd), revealed the arrests during the opening session of a Ministerial Committee meeting on Drug Use Control held on Wednesday. He stated that the suspects had ingested the illicit substance and were intercepted before embarking on the religious journey.
“Just a few days ago, we apprehended two intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia who had swallowed cocaine. They claimed to be going for Hajj,” Marwa said.
The NDLEA boss expressed deep concern over the recurring use of Hajj as a cover for drug trafficking, noting that criminal networks often exploit the pilgrimage season to smuggle narcotics across borders.
“We’ve seen it repeatedly happen where unsuspecting people are deceived under the pretext of Hajj travel. Two years ago, three women were defrauded. Some people offered to pay for their tickets, visas, and other logistics. Before departure, they were handed a small bag to deliver to someone believed to be a relative in Saudi Arabia — someone they had never met. Cocaine was sewn into the bag,” Marwa narrated.
Despite the financial challenges facing the implementation of the National Drug Control Master Plan (2021–2025), Marwa affirmed the agency’s unwavering resolve to disrupt drug trafficking operations and reduce substance abuse in Nigeria.
The NDLEA has intensified surveillance around major travel seasons, especially Hajj, to curb the rising trend of drug smuggling disguised as religious pilgrimage.
