Three Nigerians have been arrested by the Saudi Arabian authority for smuggling drugs to the country. NAN reports that the three suspects were in the country for the Hajj exercise and were found in possession of substance suspected to be cocaine.

Hajia Fatima Abolore-Jimoh who is the executive secretary of the Kwara Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board confirmed the arrest of the Nigerians who are also from Kwara.

She said they were arrested in Madina and were among the first batch of 505 pilgrims from the state. She said they were still in the custody of Saudi Arabian authorities but did not disclose their identities. Abolore-Jimoh described the arrest as unfortunate and painful as they made several appeals to the pilgrims to be good ambassadors of Kwara and Nigeria.

In spite of the unfortunate incidence, other pilgrims were described as hale and in good spirit. She added that the Saudi Arabian law would take its course on the three suspected drug traffickers. Saudi Arabia has one of the toughest law on drug trafficking as the crime is punishable by beheading.