National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered a cartel which specialised in planting illicit drugs in travellers’ luggage.

The NDLEA Chairman, Col. Muhammad Abdallah (rtd), disclosed this in a statement.

The cartel was uncovered after NDLEA detectives embarked on investigation of a Nigerian lady identified as Zainab Aliyu.

Zainab was accused of entering Saudi Arabia with tramadol. The implication in this discovery by NDLEA is the realisation that many Nigerians arrested and executed for drug trafficking in Saudi Arabia might be innocent.

Zainab was arrested by Saudi Arabia Police on December 26, shortly after arriving for Lesser Hajj.

Zainab, a student of Maitama Sule University, Kano, had travelled from Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) in company with her mother, Mrs. Maryam Aliyu, and sister, Hajara Aliyu. She was later arrested over allegations that a luggage, bearing her name tag, contained the unlawful substance.

However, while in detention, the NDLEA had received a petition from Zainab’s father, seeking a probe of his daughter’s ordeal.

The petition was signed by Zainab’s father, Habibu Nuhu Kila, and the travel agent, Rabi Umar Kazaure.

It reads: “I write to complain and call for an investigation on my daughter, Zainab Habibu Aliyu, a student of Maitama Sule University, Kano, who is currently in Saudi Arabia for Lesser Hajj but currently in detention on alleged drug-related issue.

“My wife, Maryam Habibu Aliyu, my daughters, Hajara Habibu Aliyu and Zainab Habibu Aliyu, travelled through Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, on Monday 24th, December, 2018 via Ethiopian Airlines with flight number ET 941, which departed at 2.25p.m. Normal airport process was done in the presence of all staff concerned, including the agent, Haj Rabiu Umar Kazaure, of Tura Travel Agency. My wife and two daughters with three bags of luggage were screened and checked in.

“Unfortunately, early morning on Wednesday, a day after their arrival in Medina after leaving Jeddah, my wife called me that security personnel came and arrested Zainab Habibu Aliyu on an alleged bag that was left at the airport which does not belong to her was tagged to her passport. I made contact with Nigerian Embassy in Saudi Arabia and was advised by the ambassador to report to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency. I therefore send for your investigation to save my innocent daughter.”

Consequently, the NDLEA Commander in charge of MAKIA had launched an investigation, which culminated in the arrest and arraignment before a Federal High Court in Kano of seven staff of the airport.

The accused are Idris Umar Shehu (alias Umar Sanda), Sanni Suleiman, Nuhu Adamu, Rhoda Adetunji, Udosen Itoro Henry and Sanni Hamisu.

Count one reads: “That you, Idris Umar Shehu (alias Umar Sanda), Sanni Suleiman, Nuhu Adamu, Rhoda Adetunji, Udosen Itoro Henry and Sani Hamisu, on or about the 24th day of December 2018 at Mallam Amino Kano International Airport, Kano, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court conspired within yourself to export tramadol – a drug similar to cocaine, heroin and LSD to Saudi Arabia by putting one additional luggage containing tramadol among the luggage of one Zainab Habibu Aliyu, a passenger on Ethiopian Airline Flight No ET941 to Saudi Arabi with passport number A09911835 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act CapN30L.F.N.2004.”

Count two reads: “That you, Idris Umar (alias Umar Sanda), Sanni Suleiman, Nuhu Adamu, Rhoda Adetunji, Udosen Itoro Henry and Sani Hamisu, on or about the 24th day December 2018 at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano within jurisdiction of this honourable court without lawful authority exported tramadol, a drug similar to cocaine, heroin and LSD to Saudi Arabia by putting one additional luggage containing tramadol among the luggage of one Zainab Habibu Aliyu, a passenger on Ethiopian Airline Flight No ET941 to Saudi Arabi with passport number A09911835 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act CapN30L.F.N.2004.”

Count three reads: “That you, Idris Umar (alias Umar Sanda), Sanni Suleiman, Nuhu Adamu, Rhoda Adetunji, Udosen Itoro Henry and Sani Hamisu, on or about the 24th day of December 2018 or thereabout, at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano within the jurisdiction of this honourable court without lawful authority did engage in Drug Trafficking Organisation (DTO) by constituting yourselves into a syndicate involved in the transportation of tramadol a drug similar to cocaine, heroin and LSD to Saudi Arabia by putting one additional luggage containing tramadol among the luggage of one Zainab Habibu Aliyu, a passenger on Ethiopian Airline Flight No ET941 to Saudi Arabi with passport number A09911835 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 20(g) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30L.F.N.2004.” (New Telegraph)

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