The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-British woman for allegedly attempting to smuggle 13 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside fake plantain peels through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The suspect, identified as Mrs. Mary Barek, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal 2 while preparing to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London.
According to the NDLEA, Barek, who works as a caregiver in the United Kingdom, was intercepted on Saturday, June 28, during routine screening operations at the airport.
In a statement issued by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, operatives discovered 31 large parcels of cocaine carefully disguised as hands of plantain and packed alongside other food items during a thorough search of her luggage.
“A thorough search of her bags resulted in the discovery of 31 big wraps of cocaine, which were packaged to appear like hands of plantain, weighing a total of 13 kilograms,” Babafemi said.
He added that the suspect admitted ownership of the illicit consignment during interrogation.
“In her statement, the elderly woman admitted full ownership of the recovered cocaine exhibits,” he said.
In a separate operation, the NDLEA arrested a 45-year-old doctoral student at the University of Putra Malaysia, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, over an alleged attempt to export cocaine concealed inside cartons of Orijin Bitters destined for Kuala Lumpur.
According to the agency, investigators traced Onyeka to Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State after intercepting 36 parcels of cocaine weighing 5.8 kilograms hidden within the walls of nine cartons of the herbal drink in a consolidated export cargo.
The investigation initially led to the arrest of four suspects in Lagos, including cargo agent Alalade Taiwo Azeez, driver Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi, ASPANDA Market trader Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie, and Igwilo Chidi Henry, who allegedly supplied the specially modified cartons used to conceal the drugs.
Babafemi said sustained investigations eventually uncovered Onyeka as the alleged leader of the trafficking syndicate.
“The efforts eventually paid off, leading to the unmasking of Nwabueze, who was hiding in his village, Aziora, Ozubulu, Anambra State, as the leader of the syndicate,” he stated.
The agency also announced several other major drug seizures across the country.
In Taraba State, operatives arrested 30-year-old Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke along Zaki-Biam Road in Wukari Local Government Area after recovering 43,980 capsules of Tramadol concealed inside specially modified fuel tanks of two vehicles.
In Kaduna State, Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, were arrested during a raid in Gwantu Local Government Area, where officers recovered 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Similarly, 65-year-old Francis Ifara Eja was arrested in Ikwo, Ebonyi State, with 231.7 kilograms of skunk, while 75-year-old Alhaji Babani was apprehended in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State with 15 kilograms of the same substance.
In Gombe State, NDLEA operatives arrested Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, after recovering 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 556 kilograms at Kuri Village in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area.
Beyond enforcement activities, the NDLEA said it continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through awareness programmes in schools, workplaces, religious centres and communities across the country.
The sensitisation exercises were conducted in institutions including Girls Secondary School, Abagana, Anambra State; Government Technical College, Obe, Enugu State; Adeola Odutola College, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State; and the Federal College of Education Staff Demonstration School, Kabuga, Kano State.
Commending officers involved in the recent operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), praised the commands for sustaining the agency’s dual strategy of aggressive enforcement and public enlightenment.
He urged officers nationwide to remain committed to disrupting drug trafficking networks while intensifying efforts to educate communities on the dangers of drug abuse.