Video: NDLEA cracks down on cocaine-funded Hajj syndicate, nabs three kingpins in Kano

Abdullateef Fowewe

In a significant breakthrough, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has dismantled a notorious syndicate that was sponsoring pilgrims to the Hajj pilgrimage using proceeds from cocaine trafficking.

Video link: https://x.com/dailyeconews/status/1929195258723635528?s=12

The agency according to a statement on Sunday by its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, arrested three key kingpins in Kano, dealing a major blow to drug-related crimes linked to religious travel.

The operation, conducted over the past week, uncovered how the syndicate funneled illicit drug money to finance Hajj trips, exploiting the sacred journey for criminal gain.

Babafemi confirmed that the arrested suspects are now assisting with investigations to unravel the full extent of the network.

The statement reads, “The arrest of the kingpins: Abubakar Muhammad, Abdulhakeem Muhammed Tijjani, and Muhammad Aji Shugaba on Tuesday 27th and Wednesday 28th May 2025 in Kano was a follow-up to the arrest of two pilgrims: Ibrahim Umar Mustapha and Muhammad Siraj Shifado at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano on Monday 26th May during the outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airline flight ET 940 to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

“The interdiction of the intending pilgrims at the NDLEA final screening point at the Kano airport was based on credible intelligence. When they were taken for scanning, the result confirmed ingestion of illicit substances.

“They were subsequently placed on excretion observation during which they excreted 45 wraps of cocaine each, bringing the total for both to 90 pellets with a total weight of 1.04kg.

“Investigation soon unraveled their sponsors as leaders of a notorious drug trafficking network, which specializes 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 Tuesday 27th and Wednesday 28th May 2025 in Kano.”

This crackdown underscores the NDLEA’s commitment to curbing drug trafficking and ensuring the integrity of religious pilgrimages.

While commending the officers and men of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) equally lauded their counterparts in all the commands across the country for pursuing a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.