The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-British woman, Mrs. Mary Yetunde Barek, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, after operatives discovered 13 kilograms of cocaine ingeniously concealed in fake plantain peels packed among food items in her luggage.
The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying the suspect, a caregiver based in the United Kingdom, was intercepted at the departure hall of Terminal 2 while attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London on June 28.
According to Babafemi, a thorough search of her bags led to the recovery of 31 large wraps of cocaine disguised as plantain hands, weighing a total of 13 kilograms. He said the suspect admitted ownership of the illicit consignment during interrogation.
In a related operation, NDLEA operatives dismantled an international drug trafficking syndicate following the arrest of a 45-year-old PhD student at the University of Putra, Malaysia, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, identified as the alleged mastermind behind a cocaine shipment destined for Kuala Lumpur.
Onyeka was arrested on June 29 in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State after investigators traced a consignment of 36 parcels of cocaine weighing 5.8 kilograms concealed in the walls of nine cartons of Orijin bitters. The illicit shipment had been intercepted as part of a consolidated cargo bound for Malaysia.
Four suspects earlier arrested during investigations in Lagos included cargo agent Alalade Taiwo Azeez, driver Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi, trader Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie, and Igwilo Chidi Henry, who allegedly supplied the cartons used to conceal the drugs. Their arrests eventually led operatives to Onyeka, who was tracked to his hometown of Aziora, Ozubulu, in Anambra State.
In Taraba State, NDLEA officers acting on intelligence arrested 30-year-old Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke on July 4 along the Zaki-Biam Road in Wukari Local Government Area. He was found transporting 43,980 capsules of tramadol concealed inside two vehicle fuel tanks while travelling from Onitsha, Anambra State.
The agency also recorded several other significant arrests across the country. In Kaduna State, Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, were apprehended with 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine during a raid in Gwantu on July 2.
In Ebonyi State, operatives arrested 65-year-old Francis Ifara Eja with 231.7 kilograms of skunk at Ikwo on July 4, while in Plateau State, a 75-year-old suspect, Alhaji Babani, was arrested with 15 kilograms of skunk in Kurgwi, Qua’an Pan Local Government Area, on July 3.
Similarly, in Gombe State, NDLEA operatives arrested Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, on July 1 at Kuri village in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area, where they recovered 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 556 kilograms.
Beyond enforcement operations, the agency sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through sensitisation lectures in schools and communities across Anambra, Enugu, Ogun and Kano states.
Babafemi said NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers of the MMIA, Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Plateau and Gombe Commands for the successful operations, urging personnel nationwide to sustain the momentum in reducing drug supply while intensifying public awareness campaigns against drug abuse.
