The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 55-year-old drug kingpin, Mohammed Ali Abubakar, alias Bello Karama and five members of his syndicate responsible for framing three innocent Nigerians who are currently being held in Saudi Arabia.

According to the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the mastermind, Mohammed Ali Abubakar (a.k.a. Bello Karama), worked with accomplices, including airport handling staff, to secretly tag drug-laden bags to the names of three unsuspecting pilgrims, Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Mrs. Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddiq. The pilgrims were flying to Jeddah for lesser hajj, completely unaware of the illicit substances tagged to their luggage, were arrested in Jeddah after arriving on Ethiopian Airline flight ET940.

According to Babafemi, Abubakar, who masterminded the operation, travelled to Jeddah the same day on Egypt Air, while his associates checked in seven bags under the names of the victims.

One suspect, Celestina Emmanuel Yayock, admitted checking in two of the bags for a fee of N100,000, while another, Jazuli Kabir, confessed to handling two others for the same amount.

Six suspects are currently in NDLEA custody, with four already charged to court, including Abubakar, Abdulbasit Adamu, Murtala Akande Olalekan, and Yayock.

Babafemi said the agency is engaging with Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Narcotics Control to secure the release of the three Nigerians.

He added that NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), will meet GDNC officials during an international drug conference and is prepared to travel to Saudi Arabia if necessary.

The facts clearly show that these Nigerians are victims of criminal conspiracies, and we will not allow them to suffer unjustly,” Babafemi said.

He assured that while NDLEA remains committed to combating drug trafficking, innocent citizens will not be abandoned.