Hajj Drug Man Abandoned

THE HAJJ Committee and the Ghanaian mission in Saudi Arabia appear to have abandoned the man arrested over the import of banned drugs into the oil-rich kingdom.

Alhaji Mamman Hasaacas the suspect is still in the grips of the strict Saudi security authorities over banned drugs embedded in the medicine chest of the medical team of this year’s Hajj exercise.

There are conflicting reports about the nature of the drugs he is being held over but the quantity is substantial and beyond the needs of the medical team.

While an initial report has it that it is an opium-derived drug substituted largely for scarce narcotic drugs in the Kingdom, others think it is the latter. It is said to produce the same effect as narcotics do.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ intervention hint DAILY GUIDE got initially from Hajj Council spokesperson, Halidu Haruna, has not gotten the suspect out of detention.

The owner of the drugs is said to be an Accra-based Hajia taking advantage of a time-tested sophisticated drug smuggling line to beat vigilant Saudi security authorities.

Questions are being asked as to why the medicine chest of the medical team did not go with the first flight but rather on the 13th in which schedule the telltale drug was embedded.

The suspect sources have told the paper has cried out over his abandonment by the authorities saying if there is no effective intervention he could be executed.

He is said to be a Welfare Officer belonging to a sub-committee of the Hajj Council which has so far distanced itself from him, leaving him to carry his own cross.

The smuggling of dangerous and banned drugs is an old occupation of some unscrupulous persons associated with Hajj operations.

In a related development, the Hajj airlift which started on a good note has hit a wall as many pilgrims, now penniless wait at the Hajj Village not knowing their fate.

The authorities are unable to secure additional visas for them to make it and with the normal Egypt air flights exhausted, the only alternative is through scheduled flights.

At the time of filing this report the names of some 150 passengers who have visas were being mentioned at the Hajj Village; they have been told to prepare to travel by a scheduled flight arrangement.

The 150 passengers who would go via this channel is a far cry from the many languishing at the Hajj Village. Most of the pilgrims now take announcements from the Council with a pinch of salt. Some pilgrims have given up all hope and returned home as others are demanding a refund of their fares.

Interestingly media personnel are persona non grata at the location because the Hajj management authorities would rather matters pertaining to the operations was kept under the carpet.

Abdul Wahab Giwa of Net 2 TV was assaulted and his equipment vandalized when he sought to capture the Village for a story. The same treatment befell a female reporter from one of the radio stations in town.

The Hajj Council spokesperson, Alhaji Halidu Haruna apologized for the treatment meted out to the media at the Village.