Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-British grandmother, Mrs. Mary Yetunde Barek, following the discovery of 13 kilograms of cocaine concealed in plantain peels inside her luggage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
The peels, which appeared to be real plantains and were packed among other food items, were found in Mrs. Barek’s luggage after her arrest at the departure hall of Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport while she was attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London on June 28.
According to a statement made available to ThelensNG on Sunday by the Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, the suspect works as a caregiver in the United Kingdom.
“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 statement said.
In Anambra State, a sting operation in Ekwusigo Local Government Area resulted in the arrest of a 45-year-old PhD student, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, of Universiti Putra Malaysia on June 29, 2026, following the seizure of 5.80 kilograms of cocaine concealed within the walls of nine cartons of Orijin Bitters. The consignment was part of a consolidated cargo shipment bound for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Onyeka’s arrest followed the interception of 36 parcels of cocaine, with a gross weight of 5.80 kilograms, concealed within the walls of the herbal drink cartons. Four suspects initially arrested in different parts of Lagos during the investigation include the cargo agent, Alalade Taiwo Azeez; the driver who conveyed the consignment to the cargo agent, Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi; a trader at ASPANDA Market, Trade Fair Complex, Lagos, who handed the consignment to the driver for delivery to the cargo agent, Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie; and an accomplice who supplied the cartons of Orijin Bitters used to conceal the cocaine, Igwilo Chidi Henry.
Babafemi disclosed that the sustained investigation eventually paid off, leading to the arrest of Onyeka, who was hiding in his village, Aziora, Ozubulu, Anambra State, as the alleged leader of the syndicate.
Elsewhere, in Taraba State, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence apprehended a suspect, Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke, 30, with 43,980 capsules of tramadol concealed inside two vehicle fuel tanks along Zaki-Biam Road in Wukari Local Government Area of the state while he was travelling from Onitsha, Anambra State, on July 4.
Two suspects — Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, were arrested in possession of 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine by NDLEA officers during a raid at Gwantu in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State on July 2. A 65-year-old suspect, Francis Ifara Eja, was also nabbed with 231.7 kilograms of skunk at Ikwo, Ebonyi State, on July 4.
In another operation, a 75-year-old grandfather, Alhaji Babani, was arrested in possession of 15 kilograms of skunk at Kurgwi in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State on July 3. NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence also arrested Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, at Kuri Village in Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State on July 1. Babafemi revealed that the suspects were found in possession of 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 556 kilograms.
Similarly, the Agency’s Commands and formations across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, places of worship, workplaces, communities, and other locations during the past week.
The activities included WADA enlightenment lectures for students and staff of Girls Secondary School, Abagana, Anambra State; Government Technical College, Obe, Enugu State; Adeola Odutola College, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State; and FCE Staff Demonstration School, Kabuga, Kano State, among others.
Commenting on the arrests and seizures, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), commended the officers and men of the MMIA, Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Plateau, and Gombe Commands for their professionalism and commitment.
Marwa noted that their drug supply reduction efforts were well balanced with WADA sensitisation activities and urged them, as well as their colleagues across the country, to continue raising the operational bar.
