The woman, who is said to have so far excreted 76 pellets of substances found to be cocaine, was stopped at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at the point of final search before she would board the aircraft to the Holy land.
Basira Iyabo first tested positive to narcotic ingestion and was immediately placed under observation.
This was even as the officials of the same agency also intercepted a 37-year-old father of three children at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, for inserting seven wraps of cocaine weighing 355 grammes inside his anus.
The man was said to be heading to China.
In both China and Saudi Arabia, drug trafficking is punishable by death.
The Commander of the NDLEA at the Abuja airport, Hamisu Lawan, confirmed that the female intending pilgrim is still under observation until she expels all the ingested pellets of drugs.
Lawan said: “Mrs. Binuyo was arrested during the outward screening of passengers on an Emirate flight to Medina through Dubai. She has so far excreted 76 pellets of drugs that tested positive for cocaine.
“Meanwhile, she is still under observation until the drugs are completely expelled.”
Basira Binuyo hails from Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
She is married with three children and is a trader at Dosumu Market in Lagos State.
In her statement, she agreed to smuggling the drugs for a fee.
She said: “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 N1 million, 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.”
The other suspect, arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos, was apprehended during outward screening of passengers on an Ethiopian Airline flight to Hong Kong, China through Addis Ababa.
The Commander of the NDLEA at the airport, Ahmadu Garba, said the suspect, who hails from Imo State, holds a dual citizenship of Nigeria and Mali.
Garba said: “An arrest has been made of a suspect travelling to Hong Kong, China.
“He hails from Imo State but was travelling with a Malian international passport.
“The name on his passport is Diara Sauduo, while his Nigerian name is Okpalanem Henry. The case is under investigation.”
The suspect who expelled seven wraps of cocaine on his way to China where drug trafficking is punishable by death did not show any form of remorse.
In his words: “I know that there is capital punishment for drug trafficking in China but I was optimistic of safe passage.
“Unfortunately, I was caught with only seven wraps. Maybe that is my destiny. I am married with three children.”
The Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Colonel Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (rtd), expressed satisfaction with the arrests, saying that it is a product of diligence and vigilance.
“The arrest of the suspects is commendable. We will continue to be on the alert in protecting all exit and entry points from drug trafficking organizations.
“I am glad that the suspects were arrested here, thus preventing them from untimely death and also protecting the image of our country from disrepute.”
The NDLEA boss advised members of the public to join in the anti-narcotics campaign and avoid drug trafficking and other activities capable of undermining their good name and strong moral principles.
Abdallah promised that investigation was ongoing in the reported arrest of the Kwara State pilgrims in Madinnah by Saudi authorities.
It will be recalled that three pilgrims from Kwara State were caught on their arrival in Madinnah.
The Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Hajiya Fatima Abolore-Jimoh, confirmed the arrest. [myad]
