DRUG TRAFFICKING: Waman vomits, excrets chunks of cocaine at Abuja airport

Saidat Hassan

– Saidat Hassan was introduced to drug-trafficking  by a business partner, she ingested 80 wraps of cocaine but ran out of luck at the airport where she was apprehended by the NDLEA

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a 48 year-old woman for possession of an illegal substance.

It reports that the women named Saidat Hassan, allegedly vomited 15 wraps of white, powdery substances that tested positive for cocaine.

The mother of three,‎ was arrested at the central screening section of the departure hall during the screening of passengers on an Egypt Airline flight to Jedda, Saudi Arabia, en-route Cairo.

Saidat caused a mild drama at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja after she was immediately apprehended by officers of the NDLEA who discovered that she had ingested 80 wraps of cocaine weighing 904 grammes.

The agency made the disclosure in a statement on Friday, February 12.

Hamisu Lawan, the NDLEA Abuja airport commander said efforts were made to protect Saidat from any harm resulting from drug ingestion.

“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,” said Lawan.

He said: “While under observation, she excreted sixty-five similar wraps. In all, she ingested 80 wraps of cocaine weighing 904 grammes; her case is under investigation.”

Mrs Hassan, who is a native of Idiroko in Ogun state and resident in Lagos Island claimed to be a business woman dealing in clothing materials.

“I am a business woman and I sell women clothes at Balogun market,” she said in her statement to the NDLEA.

“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.”

Mohammad Abdallah, the‎ NDLEA chairman, who expressed satisfaction with her arrest said her action negates every principle of good parenting.

“This is gross ineptitude on the part of a mother saddled with the responsibility of nurturing her children into future leaders,” said Mr Abdallah.

“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,” the NDLEA boss stressed.

Abdallah noted that his approach to drug control is both pragmatic and scientific. He said: “Every action taken must be based on best global principles while lessons learnt will influence our implementation strategies in our day to day operations.”

“The Agency will continue to sensitize members of the public by presenting facts and figures of drug trafficking as well as the larger picture of its ruin and devastation,” he concluded.