NDLEA Busts Drug Syndicate Using Hajj Pilgrims as Cocaine Couriers

A Shocking Drug Trafficking Operation Uncovered in Kano

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled a major drug syndicate that was using Hajj pilgrims as couriers to smuggle cocaine into Saudi Arabia.

The operation led to the arrest of three drug kingpins—Abubakar Muhammad, Abdulhakeem Muhammed Tijjani, and Muhammad Aji Shugaba—in Kano on May 27 and 28, 2025.

How the Syndicate Was Exposed

🚨 Two pilgrims, Ibrahim Umar Mustapha and Muhammad Siraj Shifado, were intercepted at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on May 26.

🚨 Body scans confirmed they had ingested illicit substances, leading to excretion observation.

🚨 Each suspect excreted 45 wraps of cocaine, totaling 90 pellets weighing 1.04kg.

🚨 Further investigation led to the arrest of the cartel leaders, who specialized in trafficking drugs to Saudi Arabia.

Other Major Drug Busts Across Nigeria

💰 NDLEA intercepted a 60-year-old businessman, Chinedu Leonard Okigbo, at Kano airport, who had ingested 65 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.41kg.

💰 At Port Harcourt Ports Complex, officers seized ₦9.3 billion worth of opioids, including 825,200 bottles of codeine-based syrup and 5.1 million pills of tapentadol 225mg.

💰 In Kano, operatives intercepted two suspects with $900,000 in suspected counterfeit cash.