A 55-year-old female pilgrim to Medina, Saudi Arabia who was arrested by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has explained why she swallowed cocaines in an attempt to smuggle them to Saudi Arabia.
The suspect, Mrs. Binuyo Basira Iyabo, has so far excreted 76 pellets of substances found to be cocaine.
In Binuyo’s statement, she agreed to smuggle the drugs for a fee. “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 a million naira, I accepted. I swallowed the drugs in Lagos and boarded a flight to Abuja and from there, jet out to Medina, but I was caught in the process”, she confessed.
NDLEA Commander at the Abuja Airport, Hamisu Lawan, said the female suspect is still under observation until she expels all the ingested pellets of drugs.
“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”, Hamisu stated.
