NDLEA operatives recently conducted a raid at Emerald Hotel in the Ladipo area of Oshodi, Lagos state, where intending pilgrims to the ongoing hajj in Saudi Arabia were lodged. During the operation on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, individuals were caught in the act of ingesting wraps of cocaine in preparation for their flight to the holy land.
According to Femi Babafemi, the spokesperson of the agency, those arrested in the intelligence-led operation were identified as Usman Kamorudeen (31), Olasunkanmi Owolabi (46), Fatai Yekini (38), and Ayinla Kemi (34). The four suspects had occupied two rooms in the hotel where they had prepared 200 pellets of cocaine weighing 2.20 kilograms to swallow before NDLEA officers intervened.
In each of the two rooms, 100 wraps of the Class A substance were discovered, totaling 200 wraps seized during the operation. It was revealed that two suspects were assigned to swallow 100 wraps each.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the Commander, officers, and men of the Lagos state Command of NDLEA for their effective operation. Marwa emphasized that the agency will continue to expand its reach to track, trace, and apprehend criminal elements who exploit religious pilgrimages to engage in illicit activities that tarnish the country's image.
Furthermore, Marwa affirmed that the agency will collaborate with Saudi Arabian authorities to ensure that individuals designated to receive seized illicit drug consignments within the kingdom are identified and brought to justice accordingly.
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