NDLEA Drug Syndicate in Kano Framed 3 Nigerians Detained in Saudi Arabia
Byline: Crime & Diaspora Desk, IDNN
NDLEA Drug Syndicate Exposed
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has revealed that three Nigerians detained in Saudi Arabia for alleged drug trafficking were victims of a powerful syndicate operating at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.
According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the syndicate planted illicit substances in luggage tagged under the victims’ names. Six suspects, including a 55-year-old kingpin identified as Mohammed Ali Abubakar (alias Bello Karama), have been arrested.
“The evidence shows these Nigerians are innocent victims. The drugs were checked in by syndicate members, not the travelers themselves,” Babafemi said at a press briefing in Abuja.
How the Frame-Up Happened
The victims — Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and Abdulhamid Saddiq — were travelling for lesser hajj on August 6, 2025, via Ethiopian Airlines. NDLEA found that staff of Skyway Aviation Handling Company, working with the syndicate, tagged their names on extra bags containing drugs.
Karama himself flew to Jeddah that day on a separate Egypt Air flight, while using the victims as cover.
International Talks Underway
The NDLEA confirmed that it is engaging Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) to exonerate the victims.
“Nigeria will never abandon its citizens. Our findings prove these travelers are innocent. We are sending documents and pursuing this case to its conclusion,” Babafemi assured.
Chairman/CEO Buba Marwa is expected to meet Saudi officials at an international drug conference this week.
A Recurring Scandal
This is not the first case. In 2019, Nigerian student Zainab Habib Aliyu was similarly framed at Kano Airport and detained in Saudi Arabia before her eventual release. Experts warn such incidents will persist unless aviation security is tightened.
Aviation analyst John Ojikutu called for urgent sanctions against complicit airlines and agencies:
“Without enforcement, syndicates will keep exploiting weak security layers. The system must be overhauled.”
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