Four intending pilgrims have been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) while attempting to ingest wraps of cocaine ahead of their flight scheduled for Wednesday.
Director, Media, and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, said the arrests following a raid by the operatives at Emerald Hotel, Oshodi, Lagos State where some of the intending pilgrims were lodged.
Suspects arrested after the operation include; Usman Kamorudeen, 31; Olasunkanmi Owolabi, 46; Fatai Yekini, 38; and a lady, Ayinla Kemi, 34.
The four suspects were lodged in two rooms of the hotel where they had prepared 200 pellets of cocaine weighing 2.20 kilograms to swallow when they were busted by the NDLEA.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Brig Gen Mohamed Marwa (rtd), said the agency will continue to track, trace and arrest criminal elements, who hide under the guise of pilgrimage to tarnish the image of the country.
He added that the Agency will synergize with its counterparts in Saudi Arabia to ensure that the designated recipients of the seized illicit drug consignments are traced and dealt with accordingly.