Hajj pilgrim, Basira Excretes More Wraps Of Cocaine After Excreting 76 Pellets

Basira

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Saturday said the 55-year-old female hajj pilgrim, Basira Binuyo, who excreted 76 pellets of cocaine  last week, had excreted more wraps of the hard drug.

The suspect excreted a total of 82 wraps of cocaine.

The NDLEA told, PUNCH on Saturday that the pilgrim, who was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, would be prosecuted.

In a statement, the Head, Public Affairs, NDLEA, Mr. Mitchel Ofoyeju, said the suspect tested positive to drug ingestion on her way to Medina, Saudi Arabia while on pilgrimage.

Describing her action as shameful and discreditable, the Chairman of the NDLEA, Muhammad Abdallah, said suspected drug traffickers would be severely punished in line with the laws of the land.

He said, “It is a shameful act for a 55-year-old mother, who is going on a holy pilgrimage, to ingest narcotics. This is very shocking and a clear indication of her inability to effectively discharge her parental responsibility. The agency shall invoke the powers of the law against her and others caught indulging in the production and trafficking of narcotic drugs.”

NDLEA commander at the Abuja airport, Hamisu Lawan, confirmed the total number of wraps of cocaine ingested by the suspect while under observation, the statement said.

Lawan was quoted as saying, “Mrs. Binuyo Basari Iyabo, while under observation, excreted 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 931 grammes. All arrangements have been concluded for her prosecution.”

The suspect was arrested during the outward screening of passengers on an Emirate flight to Dubai en-route Medina.

“It is even worrisome that drug trafficking is punishable by death in Saudi Arabia, her final destination,” the NDLEA said.