BREAKING: NDLEA arrests drug kingpin, 5 others over pilgrims detained in Saudi Arabia — Marwa may travel to Jeddah to secure their release

The Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), may personally travel to Saudi Arabia to secure the release of three innocent Nigerian pilgrims wrongfully detained in Jeddah over alleged drug trafficking. This development comes as NDLEA announced the arrest of a notorious drug kingpin, Mohammed Ali Abubakar, a.k.a. Bello Karama, along with five other members of a criminal syndicate operating out of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA).
The announcement was made during a press conference at NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja by the Agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, alongside senior officials Dr. Abdul Ibrahim and Theresa Asuquo.

Pilgrims Wrongfully Detained

The detained pilgrims—Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Mrs. Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddiq—had traveled to Jeddah via Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 on August 6, 2025, as part of their lesser hajj pilgrimage. Unbeknownst to them, six extra bags, including three containing illicit drugs, were secretly tagged in their names by the syndicate.
According to NDLEA, Mrs. Maryam Abdullahi had only checked in one 9kg bag, which didn’t arrive with her. Ten days later, the family was informed her missing bag had been located—just one day before their scheduled departure from Saudi Arabia on August 17. However, by then, she had been detained. Similar patterns were reported for the other two detainees.

Criminal Operation Uncovered

Following complaints from the victims’ families, NDLEA launched an urgent investigation. It revealed that the bags containing the drugs were planted without the passengers’ knowledge by a criminal syndicate operating at MAKIA.
The mastermind, Mohammed Ali Abubakar, checked in seven bags, but did not board the same flight as the pilgrims. Instead, he traveled to Jeddah aboard Egypt Air, avoiding detection.
Members of Skyway Aviation Handling Company—tasked with baggage processing—were discovered to be complicit, having fraudulently tagged the drug-laden bags to the names of the innocent pilgrims.

Confessions, Charges, and Evidence

NDLEA confirmed that six suspects are currently in custody, including:

Ali Abubakar Mohammed (kingpin)

Abdulbasit Adamu

Murtala Akande Olalekan

Celestina Emmanuel Yayock

Jazuli Kabir (named as an accomplice)

One other unnamed suspect

Four have already been charged to court and are awaiting arraignment. NDLEA revealed that:

Celestina admitted to checking in two bags for ₦100,000.

Jazuli Kabir confessed to doing the same, also for ₦100,000.

NDLEA recovered bank transfer receipts of ₦200,000 from Ali to Celestina, and from her to Jazuli.

All suspects have made full confessional statements, affirming the role of the syndicate in the illegal operation.

Marwa Moves to Secure Release of Innocent Pilgrims

NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Marwa, is currently en route to attend an International Drug Conference abroad, where he intends to meet directly with a delegation from the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) of Saudi Arabia.

“Our evidence clearly shows these Nigerians were framed and used unknowingly,” said Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy.
“General Marwa is determined to engage Saudi authorities to present the facts. If necessary, he will travel to the Kingdom himself to secure justice for the detainees.”

Preventive Actions and Assurances

NDLEA has expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Aviation, FAAN, AVSEC, and DSS for their cooperation in the investigation. Immediate security and baggage-handling reforms have been introduced at MAKIA to prevent future abuse of travelers’ identities.
Babafemi emphasized that the agency remains committed to its core mission:

“There are no sacred cows. We have consistently gone after high-profile traffickers. But we also have a duty to protect the innocent. These pilgrims are victims, not criminals.”

NDLEA assures the public that investigations will continue until all parties involved in the syndicate are brought to justice.