A 55 year old female pilgrim to Medina, Saudi Arabia to perform the annual pilgrimage has tested positive to narcotic ingestion at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja. She was immediately placed under observation by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The suspect identified as Mrs Binuyo Basira Iyabo has so far excreted seventy-six (76) pellets of substances found to be cocaine. At the Murtalla Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos, officials also intercepted a 37 year old father of three children for inserting seven wraps of cocaine weighing 355 grammes inside his anus. Both suspects were going to Saudi and China where drug trafficking is punishable by death.
NDLEA commander at the Abuja airport, Hamisu Lawan said that the female suspect is still under observation until she expels all the ingested pellets of drugs. “Mrs Binuyo was arrested during the outward screening of passengers on an Emirate flight to Medina through Dubai. She has so far excreted seventy-six (76) pellets of drugs that tested positive for cocaine. Meanwhile, she is still under observation until the drugs are completely expelled” Hamisu stated.
Mrs Binuyo hails from Irepodun local government area of Kwara State. She is married with three children and a trader at dosumu market, Lagos. In her statement, she agreed to smuggling the drugs for a fee. “I am a trader in Lagos, married with three children. I wanted to expand my cosmetic business but I have no money. My sponsor offered to foot my expenses to Saudi on pilgrimage. I was excited until I was asked to take drugs along. I wanted to decline but considering the offer of a million naira, I accepted. I swallowed the drugs in Lagos and took flight to Abuja on my way to Medina but I was caught in the process” she stated.
The other suspect was found to have inserted seven wraps of cocaine weighing 355 grammes inside his anus at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos. He was apprehended during outward screening of passengers on an Ethiopian Airline flight to Hong Kong, China through Addis Ababa.
