Drug baron busted in Mecca

A member of the task force of Ghana's Hajj Council has been arrested in Saudi Arabia over drugs.

Although the nature of the drugs was yet to be ascertained, the Ghanaian suspect was still being held for questioning by the Saudi authorities.

In recent times, the media in Ghana had been awash with reports of Ghanaians being nabbed for drug related offences outside the country.

Reports reaching Daily Guide suggested that upon the discovery of the banned drug in the medicine chest of the Ghanaian medical team, the Saudi officials asked for the owner, whereupon the Hajj Council official (name withheld) claimed ownership.

To ascertain the claim further, the Saudi officials reportedly asked for ownership thrice and received same number of confirmations.

After being satisfied about the true ownership, the Saudi officials handcuffed the Ghana task force member, at which stage the latter sought to explain, but the Saudis were not ready for any explanation, as they whisked him away.

Two ladies, who were also arrested for possessing analgesics, were later released.

Saudis have a strict drug use enforcement code and would not brook any default of their laws regarding illicit drug importation into the kingdom.

Even personal drugs must be accompanied by a medical officer's authorized before pilgrims are allowed to carry them into the kingdom.

When Daily Guide contacted Halidu Haruna, spokesperson for the Hajj Council, he confirmed the arrest but ruled out cocaine.

He could not establish what kind of drug it was, except to explain that it was a form of anaesthetic used to induce sleep and manage fatigue.

The ministry of foreign affairs, he said, had intervened and according to him, “the man could be released today”.

Even kola is regarded as a drug in Saudi Arabia and has been banned over the years, but because of the high price it commands in the Kingdom, consumed mostly by the migrant community, the temptation by Ghanaian and Nigerian pilgrims to breach the law is irresistible.

Every year large quantities of the stimulant is seized and destroyed.

In spite of that however, there is no shortage of it in the Kingdom as are narcotic substances.

Those arrested for possessing drugs are executed under Saudi laws.