Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have intercepted a woman travelling to Saudi Arabia with illicit drugs concealed in a keg of palm oil.

The interception occurred at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, during the outward clearance of an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah via Addis Ababa on Friday, October 16.

According to the Agency, the passenger, identified as Fatimah Ahmad, was found with 511.75 grams of cannabis, popularly known as skunk, hidden inside a gallon of palm oil.

During interrogation, the suspect reportedly told operatives that the gallon was given to her by her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, who asked her to deliver it to someone on arrival in Saudi Arabia. Yahaya was subsequently arrested at the airport car park.

The NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement and video posted on Saturday, issuing a public alert to Nigerians.

Babafemi warned travellers never to accept parcels or luggage from anyone, no matter how close.

“We’ll never be tired of repeating this warning: Never accept any parcel or luggage from anyone or on behalf of anyone no matter how close you’re!” he said.

He added that the woman could have faced death penalty if the drugs were discovered in Saudi Arabia, noting “She’ll have been counting her days on earth by now if this was discovered in Saudi.”

He advised Nigerians to choose to offend the person rather than go to jail.

CREDIT: Vanguard Newspapers / Femi Babafemi.