NDLEA nabs ‘drug syndicate behind detention of three pilgrims’ in Saudi Arabia

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Mohammed Ali Abubakar, a 55-year-old alleged drug kingpin also known as Bello Karama, and five members of his “syndicate” operating from the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport. 

The suspects were apprehended following investigations linking them to the shipment of illicit substances, which led to three “innocent Nigerians” being detained in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, shared the development alongside senior agency officials, during a press briefing in Abuja on Monday.

He explained that the arrests followed petitions received by NDLEA chairman Buba Marwa from families of the detained Nigerians.

The three victims — Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and Abdulhamid Saddiq — boarded Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 from Kano to Jeddah via Addis Ababa on August 6, 2025.

According to the agency, they were unknowingly tagged with six extra bags, three of which contained illicit drugs.

“Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, while embarking on this flight, only checked in one luggage weighing 9 kilograms on the 6th day of August, 2025, which incidentally did not arrive with her at her destination,” Babafemi said.

“Following this allegation, she was detained in Jeddah and is still in detention to date. The case of the other two persons followed the same pattern.”

The NDLEA explained that members of the syndicate, working with Skyway Aviation Handling Company, secretly tagged the drug-laden bags to the pilgrims’ names without their knowledge.

“All the bags were traced to one Ali Abubakar Mohammed (aka Bello Karama), the leader of the syndicate, who checked them into Ethiopian Airlines the same day the three complainants travelled,” Babafemi stated.

“It is interesting to note that Ali Abubakar Mohammed, who also travelled to Jeddah on the same date, boarded Egypt Air rather than Ethiopian Airlines, where he checked in his contaminated bags.”

The NDLEA said six members of the syndicate are now in custody, with four charged to court for arraignment. These include Ali Abubakar Mohammed, Abdulbasit Adamu, Murtala Akande Olalekan, and Celestina Emmanuel Yayock.

“They have all made confessional statements. While Ali admitted bringing in seven luggage items, Celestina confessed to checking in two of them for a fee of N100,000,” Babafemi said.

“Another suspect, Jazuli Kabir, admitted collecting N100,000 for checking in two other bags, while Ali travelled with the other three bags on Egypt Air. We have the receipts for the transfers.”

The NDLEA added that it is in discussions with Saudi authorities to secure the release of the detained pilgrims.

“As a result, the chairman of the agency is presently on his way to attend an international drug conference, where a delegation from the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) will be present,” the spokesperson said.

“He intends to meet them one-on-one to present our findings and seek their cooperation in ensuring that Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi and the two others get the justice they deserve.

“If required, the CEO is also prepared to travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia personally to pursue this matter to its conclusion.”