Saudi Arabia releases three Nigerian women arrested for cocaine possession.
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By Matthew Atungwu
The Saudi government has released three Nigerian women arrested for possession of illegal drugs.
This was stated by the spokesperson of the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, on Sunday in Abuja. Ebienfa said the release followed a high-level diplomatic engagement between the Nigerian government and the Saudi authorities.
He listed the released Nigerian women as Hadiza Abba, Fatima Malah and Fatima Gamboi. They were arrested for suspected possession of a substance suspected to be cocaine during a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. The Nigerians were arrested on March 5, 2024 at Prince Mohammad bin Abdul Azeez International Airport in Medina, Saudi Arabia and released after spending 10 months in custody.
"The arrest of the three women follows the earlier arrest of two Nigerian nationals, who were found with 80 capsules of cocaine weighing 900.28g and 70 capsules of cocaine weighing 789.5g, respectively. "The women were arrested by Saudi authorities on suspicion of being accomplices and involved in the trafficking of the prohibited substance found in the possession of the aforementioned arrested Nigerians.
"The ministry would like to recall that the arrest of the trio has attracted much attention in Saudi Arabia and Nigeria.
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"Their successful release was achieved after lengthy diplomatic and legal engagements that culminated in their release and release and their subsequent handover to the Nigerian Consulate General in Jeddah. "The women were received by Ambassador Muazam Nayaya, the Consul General of Nigeria in Jeddah and are currently awaiting the relevant immigration procedures for their return to Nigeria to be reunited with their families," the statement said.
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