Three Nigerian Pilgrims Falsely Accused of Drug Trafficking in Saudi Arabia Released – NDLEA

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says three Nigerians wrongly detained in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, over the shipment of illicit substances, have been released.

The NDLEA recently announced that it 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 agency had said the suspects were apprehended following investigations linking them to the shipment of illicit substances, which led to three “innocent Nigerians” being detained in Jeddah.

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.

Giving an update during a press briefing on Wednesday, Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said following a series of engagements, one of the three Nigerians was released from custody on September 14, with the remaining two let go the following day.

“As we speak, they will be arriving in Nigeria anytime shortly. We therefore see this as an opportunity to express the executive officer’s happiness over this development while commending his counterpart at the Saudi General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) for upholding the essence of the memorandum of understanding between NDLEA and GDNC on collaboration and partnership,” he said.

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“We would like to reiterate our commitment that Nigeria will never abandon its citizens, especially when the past clearly shows that they are victims of criminal conspiracies as established in this case.”

Babafemi assured the public of the agency’s unwavering commitment to fight the scourge of substance abuse and trafficking in the country.

“Conversely, we will also not support the innocent being punished for crimes they did not commit, especially in this case,” he said.

“In the words of Buba Marwa, our chairman and chief executive, the biggest support of our efforts in this case came from President Bola Tinubu himself, who is committed to ensuring that every Nigerian gets their desired respect and fair treatment wherever they are across the world.

“And that is what has come to play in this case, that no Nigerian is unjustly punished for crimes they know nothing about anywhere in the world.

“We equally appreciate the assistance provided by the honourable attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, the honourable minister of foreign affairs, and the honourable minister of aviation and aerospace development, as well as the national security advisor, who were with us all the way on this matter.”