By Ajibola Olaide, JKNewsMedia Reporter
COCAINE CONCEALD inside plantain peels led to the arrest of a 67-year-old Nigerian British grandmother by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) after 13kg of the illicit drug was discovered in her luggage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that the agency identified the suspect as Mrs. Mary Yetunde Barek, a caregiver based in the United Kingdom (UK).
She was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal 2 while attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London on Sunday 28 June 2026.
NDLEA said a thorough search of her luggage uncovered 31 large wraps of cocaine packaged to resemble plantain hands and hidden among other food items.
The exhibits weighed 13kg as the agency stated that the suspect admitted full ownership of the recovered cocaine.
The agency also announced the arrest of a 45-year-old PhD student at the University of Putra, Malaysia, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, during a sting operation in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State on Monday 29 June 2026.
NDLEA said the arrest followed the interception of 36 parcels of cocaine weighing 5.80kg concealed inside the walls of nine cartons of Orijin bitters in a consolidated cargo bound for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
It said four suspects, identified as cargo agent Alalade Taiwo Azeez, driver Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi, trader Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie and Igwilo Chidi Henry, were initially arrested in Lagos during investigations as they admitted having supplied the cartons of Orijin bitters used to conceal the cocaine.
NDLEA stated that further investigations led to the arrest of Nwabueze at his village of Aziora in Ozubulu, Anambra State, where he was identified as the leader of the syndicate.
In Taraba State, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence arrested Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke, 30, on Saturday 4 July along Zaki Biam Road in Wukari Local Government Area. The agency said 43,980 capsules of tramadol were concealed inside two vehicle fuel tanks as he travelled from Onitsha in Anambra State.
The agency also said Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, were arrested with 1.7kg of methamphetamine during a raid at Gwantu in Kaduna State on Thursday 2 July.
NDLEA added that Francis Ifara Eja, 65, was arrested with 231.7kg of skunk at Ikwo in Ebonyi State on Saturday 4 July, while 75-year-old Alhaji Babani was arrested with 15kg of skunk at Kurgwi in Qua’anpan Local Government Area of Plateau State on Friday 3 July.
In Gombe State, NDLEA said Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, were arrested at Kuri village in Yamaltu Deba Local Government Area on Wednesday 1 July with 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 556kg.
The agency said its commands and formations also sustained War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities during the past week.
The campaign included enlightenment lectures for students and staff of Girls Secondary School Abagana in Anambra State, Government Technical College Obe in Enugu State, Adeola Odutola College Ijebu Ode in Ogun State and FCE Staff Demonstration School Kabuga in Kano State.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa RtD commended officers and personnel of the MMIA, Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Plateau and Gombe commands for the arrests and seizures. He noted their drug supply reduction efforts balanced with War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation activities and charged them and their compatriots across the country to continue raising the operational bar.
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