The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has successfully exposed and broken up a criminal network that was using hajj pilgrims as drug mules to smuggle narcotics into Saudi Arabia, leading to the arrest of three major figures behind the operation in Kano.
The key suspects, Abubakar Muhammad, Abdulhakeem Tijjani, and Muhammad Aji Shugaba, were captured on May 27 and 28—Tuesday and Wednesday—following earlier arrests of two prospective pilgrims at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, who were found in possession of 90 pellets of cocaine.
In a statement released on Sunday, the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, explained that the two individuals, Ibrahim Mustapha and Muhammad Shifado, were apprehended on May 26 during passenger checks for Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 940 bound for Jeddah.
According to him, acting on solid intelligence, NDLEA officers conducted a body scan on the suspects, which revealed the presence of illegal drugs inside their bodies.
Babafemi said that after being placed under observation, the suspects excreted 45 wraps of cocaine each, adding up to 90 pellets with a total weight of 1.04 kilograms.
“An investigation soon unravelled their sponsors as leaders of a notorious drug trafficking network, which specialises in trafficking illicit drugs to Saudi Arabia. A swift follow-up operation was carried out, and the trio of Abubakar Muhammad, Abdulhakeem Muhammed Tijjani, and Muhammad Aji Shugaba were arrested on May 27 and 28, 2025 in Kano,” he added.
Still in Kano, Babafemi noted that NDLEA operatives at the airport also arrested a 60-year-old businessman named Chinedu Leonard Okigbo on Wednesday.
He said the suspect was caught while preparing to board Qatar Airways flight QR1432 to Iran.
“His body scan confirmed he ingested illicit substances, as a result of which he was placed on excretion observation, during which he excreted 65 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.41kg,” he added.
In another operation, Babafemi said NDLEA personnel at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex in Onne, Rivers State, carried out a joint inspection of seven containers flagged for monitoring between May 28 and May 30.
He said the inspection led to the discovery of 825,200 bottles of codeine-based syrup and trodol, with a combined value of N5.78 billion, along with 5.1 million tapentadol 225mg tablets worth N3.57 billion—bringing the estimated street value to N9.35 billion.
In a separate incident, also in Kano, Babafemi said NDLEA teams patrolling the Kano-Maiduguri Road on May 30 stopped Abubakar Hussein, aged 42, and Sahabi Adamu, aged 53, who were found with $900,000 in suspected fake currency.
He stated that the matter had been handed over to the appropriate agencies for further investigation.
In Adamawa State, on Tuesday, NDLEA operatives found 390 compressed blocks of skunk cannabis weighing 275.3 kilograms in an abandoned Toyota Sienna along the Ngurore–Yola Road.
In Kwara State, Babafemi said the agency arrested a well-known female drug dealer, Alhaja Mutiat Abdul-Fatai, on May 31 in the Oja Oba area of Ilorin.
“Various quantities of opioids, including tramadol, flunitrazepam, and codeine-based syrup, were recovered from her residence,” he added.
Appreciating the dedication of NDLEA officers, the agency’s Chairman and Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), commended the teams at MAKIA, PHPC, Kano, Kwara, and Adamawa for their outstanding operations.
He also acknowledged the efforts of personnel nationwide in maintaining a strong approach that targets both drug supply chains and demand reduction.
