The 48-year-old suspect was arrested at the central screening section of the departure hall during screening of passengers on an Egypt Airline flight to Jedda, Saudi Arabia en-route Cairo. Operatives of the anti-drug agency discovered that she had ingested 80 wraps of cocaine weighing 904 grammes ahead of her flight.
NDLEA Abuja airport Commander Mr. Hamisu Lawan spoke after the suspect's arrest saying she went on to excrete more wraps.
“As soon as we discovered that the suspected wraps she vomited tested positive for cocaine, we took measures to ensure her safety by preventing any harm that may result from drug ingestion. While under observation, she excreted sixty-five (65) similar wraps. In all, she ingested eighty wraps of cocaine weighing 904 grammes; her case is under investigation” Hamisu stated.
Chairman of NDLEA, Col. Mohammad Mustapha Abdallah (rtd) also commented on her arrest saying, “This is gross ineptitude on the part of a mother saddled with the responsibility of nurturing her children into future leaders. I am glad that she did not die from drug ingestion and she is alive to face trial. Besides escaping the risk of swallowing cocaine, this arrest also saved her because drug trafficking in Saudi Arabia is punishable by death.
"She will soon be charged to court because the law must run its full course. I expect the general public to learn lessons from this case that drug trafficking leads to pain, ignominy and untimely death,” Abdallah said.
The suspect, Mrs. Saidat Bola Hassan, said she was introduced into the drug business by her friend and business associate.
“I am a business woman and I sell women clothes at Balogun Market. I used to buy my goods from Ghana. I was introduced into the drug business by a friend and business partner. The drug was brought from Abidjan, Ivory Coast and we were to share the proceeds equally.
"Until my arrest, I never knew that the cocaine I ingested would have led to my death in Saudi Arabia. I thank God for keeping me alive," she said.
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