Female Kwara State pilgrim excretes 76 wraps of cocaine

Saudi-bound Nigerian pilgrim excretes 76 cocaine wraps
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"My sponsor offered to foot my expenses to Saudi on
pilgrimage. I was excited until I was asked to take
drugs along." -- Basira

SEPTEMBER 2, 2016
A 55-year-old female pilgrim to Medina, Saudi Arabia to
perform the annual pilgrimage, Basira Iyabo Binuyo, has
tested positive to narcotic ingestion at the Nnamdi
Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Binuyo was immediately placed under observation by
officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
The suspect has so far excreted 76 pellets of
substances found to be cocaine.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos,
officials also intercepted a 37-year-old father of three
children for inserting seven wraps of cocaine weighing
355 grammes inside his anus.
Both suspects were going to Saudi and China where
drug trafficking is punishable by death.
The Commander of the NDLEA at the Abuja airport,
Hamisu Lawan, said the female suspect 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,”
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 was found to have inserted seven
wraps of cocaine weighing 355 grammes inside his anus
at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos.
He 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, stating that it is a product
of diligence and vigilance.
Abdallah said: “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 organisations.
“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 urged 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 Medina by
Saudi authorities.
It will be recalled that three pilgrims from Kwara State
were caught on their arrival in Madinnah.
Hajia Fatima Abolore-Jimoh, the Executive Secretary of
the Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board,
confirmed the arrest.