NDLEA Arrests Four Pilgrims with Cocaine at Lagos Hotel
Lagos, Nigeria - Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested four individuals attempting to smuggle cocaine to Saudi Arabia. Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesman, announced the arrests in a statement on Thursday.
The suspects were apprehended on June 5 during a raid at the Emerald Hotel in Ladipo, Oshodi, Lagos State. The intending pilgrims were caught ingesting wraps of cocaine in preparation for their flight to the holy land.
The arrested individuals are Usman Kamorudeen, 31; Olasunkanmi Owolabi, 46; Fatai Yekini, 38; and 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," Babafemi stated. "Each room contained 100 wraps of the Class A substance, totaling 200 wraps. Two suspects were to swallow 100 wraps each."
NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, praised the Lagos State command's efforts, highlighting the agency's commitment to tracking and apprehending drug traffickers. Marwa emphasized that the NDLEA will work with Saudi Arabian authorities to identify and prosecute the intended recipients of the seized drugs.
"The agency will continue to spread its dragnet to track, trace, and apprehend criminal elements, including those attempting to use pilgrimage as a cover for their nefarious activities," Marwa added.
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