The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have arrested a notorious drug kingpin, Mohammed Abubakar, also known as Bello Karama, alongside five members of his syndicate operating at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA).

According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the syndicate was behind an alleged conspiracy that led to the detention of three innocent Nigerians in Saudi Arabia on false drug trafficking charges after their lesser hajj pilgrimage.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, Babafemi, joined by senior NDLEA officials, revealed that the arrested suspects had secretly tagged illicit drug-laden bags to the names of the three unsuspecting pilgrims.

The victims, Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and Abdulhamid Saddiq, were detained in Jeddah after Saudi authorities intercepted the bags.

Babafemi said investigations showed that Abubakar, the alleged mastermind, checked in seven bags on Ethiopian Airlines using the pilgrims’ identities while personally travelling on a different flight to Jeddah via Egypt Air.

He said NDLEA linked the operation to staff of the Skyway Aviation Handling Company, who allegedly tagged the bags for cash payments.

“So far, six members of the syndicate are in our custody. Four have been charged to court, including Abubakar (alias Bello Karama), Abdulbasit Adamu, Murtala Akande Olalekan, and Celestina Emmanuel Yayock. They have all confessed to their roles,” Babafemi said.

“They have all made confessional statements. While Ali had admitted bringing in seven luggage, Celestina confessed checking in two of them for a fee of N100,000 and another suspect Jazuli Kabir who checked in two other bags admitted collecting N100,000 for the dirty job, while Ali travelled with the other three bags on Egypt Air. We have the receipts for the transfer of N200,000 from Ali to Celestina who in turn transferred N100,000 to Jazuli.”

The agency spokesperson also disclosed that it is working with the Saudi General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) to secure the release of the detained Nigerians.

Babafemi said Buba Marwa, NDLEA chairman, is scheduled to meet Saudi officials during an international drug conference to present evidence that the pilgrims were framed.

“The NDLEA will not allow innocent citizens to suffer for crimes they did not commit. While we continue our fight against drug trafficking, we will also defend Nigerians unfairly implicated,” Babafemi added.

The agency thanked the ministry of aviation, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), AVSEC, and the Department of State Services (DSS) for supporting interim measures at Kano airport to prevent similar incidents.

The post NDLEA arrests Kano airport drug kingpin, exposes plot that trapped 3 Nigerians in Saudi Arabia first appeared on The Times of Abuja.