The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-British grandmother, Mary Barek, for allegedly attempting to smuggle 13 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in fake plantain peels through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The agency said Barek, a caregiver based in the United Kingdom, was apprehended at the departure hall of Terminal 2 of the airport on Sunday, June 28, while attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said operatives discovered 31 large wraps of cocaine disguised as hands of plantain after conducting a thorough search of the suspect’s luggage.
The illicit drugs, weighing 13 kilogrammes, were packed alongside other food items.
Babafemi said, “A thorough search of her bags resulted in the discovery of 31 big wraps of cocaine which were packaged to appear like plantain hands, weighing a total of 13 kilograms. In her statement, the elderly woman admitted full ownership of the recovered cocaine exhibits.”
The anti-narcotics agency also announced the arrest of a 45-year-old PhD student at the University of Putra, Malaysia, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, over an alleged attempt to export cocaine concealed inside cartons of Orijin Bitters bound for Kuala Lumpur.
Babafemi said Onyeka was arrested in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State on June 29 after investigators identified him as the alleged leader of a drug trafficking syndicate.
He explained that NDLEA operatives had earlier intercepted 36 parcels of cocaine weighing 5.80 kilogrammes hidden inside the walls of nine cartons of the herbal drink, which formed part of a consolidated cargo destined for Malaysia.
According to him, four suspects were initially arrested during the investigation in Lagos. They include cargo agent Alalade Taiwo Azeez, driver Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi, ASPANDA Market trader Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie, and Igwilo Chidi Henry, who allegedly supplied the cartons used to conceal the drugs.
Babafemi said, “The efforts eventually paid off, leading to the unmasking of Nwabueze hiding in his village Aziora, Ozubulu, Anambra State as the leader of the syndicate.”
In Taraba State, NDLEA operatives arrested a 30-year-old suspect, Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke, along the Zaki-Biam Road in Wukari Local Government Area on Saturday, July 4.
The agency said 43,980 capsules of Tramadol were recovered from two vehicle fuel tanks specially modified to conceal the drugs.
Similarly, operatives arrested Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, during a raid in Gwantu Local Government Area of Kaduna State on July 2, where they allegedly recovered 1.7 kilogrammes of methamphetamine.
In Ebonyi State, a 65-year-old suspect, Francis Ifara Eja, was arrested with 231.7 kilogrammes of skunk at Ikwo on July 4.
Also, a 75-year-old suspect, Alhaji Babani, was apprehended with 15 kilogrammes of skunk at Kurgwi in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State on July 3.
In Gombe State, NDLEA operatives arrested Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, on July 1 with 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 556 kilogrammes at Kuri village in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area.
Beyond its enforcement operations, the agency said its commands across the country continued the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through sensitisation programmes in schools, workplaces, worship centres and communities.
According to Babafemi, awareness campaigns were conducted at Girls Secondary School, Abagana, Anambra State; Government Technical College, Obe, Enugu State; Adeola Odutola College, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State; and the FCE Staff Demonstration School, Kabuga, Kano State, among other locations.
Commending officers involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), praised the commands for combining enforcement efforts with public enlightenment.
Babafemi quoted Marwa as saying he “commended the officers and men of MMIA, Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Plateau, and Gombe Commands for the arrests and seizures,” noting that “their drug supply reduction efforts balanced with WADA sensitisation activities,” while urging them and other officers nationwide to sustain the momentum.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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