The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 55-year-old drug kingpin, Mohammed Ali Abubakar, popularly known as Bello Karama, alongside five members of his syndicate, in connection with the wrongful implication of three Nigerians currently detained in Saudi Arabia for alleged drug trafficking.
The arrests were announced at a press conference on Monday, August 25, 2025, by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, at the agency’s national headquarters in Abuja. He was flanked by the Director of Assets and Financial Investigation, Dr. Abdul Ibrahim, and the Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, Theresa Asuquo.
Innocent pilgrims wrongly implicated
According to the NDLEA, the syndicate operating at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, was behind the illicit drug shipment that led to the arrest of three innocent Nigerian pilgrims in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The victims — Mrs. Maryam Hussain Abdullahi, Mrs. Abdullahi Bahijja Aminu, and Mr. Abdulhamid Saddiq — had embarked on a lesser hajj pilgrimage. They traveled on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 from Kano to Jeddah via Addis-Ababa on August 6, 2025, but were wrongly tagged with six additional bags, three of which contained illicit drugs.
The NDLEA explained that Mrs. Abdullahi checked in only one 9kg bag, which initially did not arrive with her in Saudi Arabia. Shockingly, her luggage later surfaced after she was detained, following the discovery of the drug-laden bags falsely linked to her and two other pilgrims.
How the syndicate operated
The agency’s investigation revealed that the bags containing illicit drugs were deliberately checked in under the pilgrims’ names by members of a criminal syndicate, including staff of Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO).
The mastermind, Ali Abubakar Mohammed (aka Bello Karama), checked in the bags on Ethiopian Airlines while he personally traveled to Jeddah on Egypt Air with three other bags. The NDLEA said members of the syndicate received payments to execute the operation, with receipts confirming money transfers.
- Celestina Emmanuel Yayock confessed to checking in two bags for ₦100,000.
- Jazuli Kabir admitted checking in two other bags for ₦100,000.
- Ali Mohammed himself brought in seven bags in total.
NDLEA Engages Saudi Authorities
The NDLEA emphasized that evidence from its investigation proves the three Nigerians are innocent victims of a criminal conspiracy. The agency is now engaging with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) in Saudi Arabia to secure their release.
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, is expected to meet Saudi officials during an international drug conference to present Nigeria’s findings and push for justice. If necessary, he will personally travel to Saudi Arabia to follow up on the case.
Six suspects linked to the syndicate are now in NDLEA custody, with four already charged to court for prosecution. They include:
- Ali Abubakar Mohammed (aka Bello Karama)
- Abdulbasit Adamu
- Murtala Akande Olalekan
- Celestina Emmanuel Yayock
The NDLEA assured Nigerians that while it remains committed to its fight against drug trafficking, it will not allow innocent citizens to suffer unjustly.
“Nigeria will never abandon its citizens, especially when facts clearly show they are victims of criminal conspiracies,” Babafemi said.
The agency also commended the Ministry of Aviation, FAAN, AVSEC, and DSS for their collaboration and the new interim security measures at MAKIA to prevent similar incidents.
