Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), have raided Emerald Hotel, Ladipo area of Oshodi, Lagos state where some intending pilgrims to the ongoing hajj in Saudi Arabia were lodged and caught in the act of ingesting wraps of cocaine ahead of their flight to the holy land yesterday, June 5.
According to a statement today, June 6, by the Agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, those who were arrested during the intelligence-led operation include 31 years old Usman Kamorudeen, 46 years old Olasunkanmi Owolabi, 38 years old Fatai Yekini and a lady, 34 years old Ayinla Kemi.
The statement said that the four suspects were lodged in two rooms in the hotel where they had prepared 200 pellets of cocaine weighing 2.20 kilograms to swallow when NDLEA officers stormed their rooms.
It said that One hundred wraps of the Class A substance were recovered from each of the two rooms, bringing the total seizure to 200 wraps.
“Two suspects were to swallow 100 wraps each.”
The statement quoted the Commander as having commended officers and men of the Lagos state Command of NDLEA, for the succeful operation.
It said that the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, retired Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa vowed that the agency would continue to spread its dragnet to track, trace and apprehend criminal elements who are hiding under pilgrimage to carry out their nefarious activities.
“The Agency will work with its counterparts in Saudi Arabia to ensure that the designated recipients of seized illicit drug consignments in any part of Saudi Arabia are also traced and dealt with accordingly.”
