The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has busted a drug trafficking syndicate that was allegedly sponsoring Hajj pilgrims to smuggle narcotics out of the country through Kano State.

In a statement on Sunday, NDLEA Spokesperson, Femi Babafemi indicated that the cartel’s activities came to light with the arrest of two alleged drug mules, Ibrahim Umar Mustapha and Muhammad Siraj Shifado, at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on 26 May 2025. The suspects had made plans to travel to Jeddah through Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 940.

“They were subsequently placed on excretion observation, during which they excreted 45 wraps of cocaine each.

“The total number of pellets retrieved was 90, weighing approximately 1.04 kilograms,” Babafemi disclosed.

Babafemi also revealed that, “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”.