Three Nigerian pilgrims detained for alleged drug trafficking in Saudi Arabia have been released.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), announced this at a presser yesterday.
The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, explained that their release followed an engagement between the NDLEA and the Saudi government.
He said the three pilgrims would soon arrive in the country.
“Saudi Arabia authorities have released three Nigerian pilgrims who were detained in Jeddah since last month following their arrest over alleged drug trafficking. The 3 Nigerians who were freed from detention after four weeks in custody include Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Mrs. Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and AbdulHamid Saddieq”, said the spokesman.
Babafemi, however, advised air passengers to always ensure the appropriate tagging of their luggage before departure to avoid being implicated by drug dealers.
Recall that in August, the NDLEA arrested a suspected drug kingpin and five members of his syndicate, accused of planting narcotics on innocent pilgrims travelling through the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), leading to the detention of three Nigerians in Saudi Arabia.
Those implicated by the syndicate included a 39-year-old mother of five, Maryam Hussaini; Mrs. Abdullahi Aminu, and Abdulhamid Saddiq, all of whom are still being held by Saudi authorities on the allegation of drug trafficking.
Babafemi had also disclosed that the NDLEA Chairman, Brig Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), would meet officials of Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) during an upcoming international drug conference to present Nigeria’s findings and push for the release of the detainees.
Expressing happiness over the development, Marwa commended his counterpart at the Saudi GDNC for upholding the essence of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NDLEA and GDNC on collaboration and partnership.
The arrest and detention of the pilgrims had sparked fresh concerns over airport security and baggage handling in Nigeria, with authorities promising tighter checks at the Kano airport to prevent similar incidents.
