Authorities processing prospective pilgrims at the Tamale Airport to Saudi Arabia, have scaled up efforts in ensuring that passengers adhere to strict directives of not transporting with them banned goods.

It follows the seizure by Saudi Immigration authorities volumes of kola nuts and suspected bleaching creams and lotions from Ghanaian pilgrims who arrived in that county to perform this year’s Hajj.

The move has also led to authorities discovering more of the banned goods at the Tamale Hajj village which have been subsequently seized prior to the departure of the third and fourth flights.

The Saudi government in its guidelines for this year’s hajj, banned the importation of kola nuts as well as pornographic materials into that country.
It warned to deal ruthlessly with violators in strict accordance with the laws of Saudi Arabia.

Would-be Ghanaian pilgrims were accordingly advised against any attempt to take along with them such materials but it appeared some of them were adamant.

According to the Pilgrims Affairs of Ghana, some Ghanaians managed to conceal the substances to outwit Ghanaian authorities but were detected upon arrival in Madina.

“Immigration at that Airport has seized volumes of Cream lotions and variety of pomade from Ghanaian Pilgrims upon all the cautions and sensitisation from the Hajj Committee,” it said in a statement issued Sunday.