No Hajj member arrested over cocaine – Official

Alhaji Halidu Haruna, Public Relations Offcer of the National Hajj Committee, has denied allegations that a member of the Committee has been arrested for possessing cocaine in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

He said two pilgrims and one member of the Hajj Task Force were earlier detained and after some time the two pilgrims were released.

Alhaji Haruna said the two pilgrims were arrested for possessing pain killers without prescriptions and the medicine which was carried by the Ghana Medical Team for the treatment of Ghanaian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.

“The medicine is the normal pain killer we use in Ghana, but is not allowed by Saudi authorities, it is just like cola nuts which are not allowed into the kingdom”.

Alhaji Haruna said the Saudi authorities initially called on the National Hajj Committee to pay duty for the medicine but later rescinded is decision and refused to allow the medicine to enter the Kingdom.

He said the Committee through the Ghana Embassy in Saudi Arabia was dialoging with the Saudi Authorities for the release of the Task force member.

Alhaji Haruna appealed to the remaining pilgrims who are yet to depart from the shores of Ghana to desist from carrying any unapproved substances that are against the laws of the Kingdom.

Source: GNA