The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has nabbed an airport cartel which specializes in planting drugs in passengers’ luggage. According to the Chairman of the NDLEA, Col. Abdallah (rtd).
The cartel was uncovered after detectives embarked on investigation of a Nigerian lady identified as Zainab Aliyu, who was accused of entering Saudi Arabia with tramadol. Zainab was arrested by Saudi Arabia Police on December 26, 2018, shortly after arriving for Lesser Hajj, over allegations that a luggage, bearing her name tag, contained the unlawful substance.
However, while in detention, the NDLEA received a petition from her father, seeking a probe of his daughter’s ordeal. Consequently, the NDLEA Commander in charge of MAKIA launched an investigation, which culminated in the arrest and arraignment of seven staff of the airport. The accused are Idris Umar Shehu, Sanni Suleiman, Nuhu Adamu, Rhoda Adetunji, Udosen Itoro Henry and Sanni Hamisu. The cartel had planted the tramadol-bearing luggage on Zainab.
It was further established that Zainab, who had only a luggage, was not aware that a second bag had been labelled in her name. The implication of this discovery by NDLEA is that many Nigerians arrested and executed for drug trafficking in Saudi Arabia might be innocent.