The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-British woman, Mrs Mary Yetunde Barek, for allegedly attempting to smuggle 13 kilograms of cocaine concealed in fake plantain peels through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
The agency said the suspect, a United Kingdom-based caregiver, was intercepted at the departure hall of Terminal 2 while preparing to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London on June 28, 2026.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, officers discovered 31 large wraps of cocaine ingeniously packaged to resemble fresh plantain hands and hidden among food items in her luggage.
The illicit consignment weighed a total of 13 kilograms.
Babafemi said the suspect admitted ownership of the drugs during interrogation.
He said, “A thorough search of her luggage led to the recovery of 31 large wraps of cocaine carefully packaged to appear like plantain hands and concealed among food items. The total weight of the cocaine was 13 kilograms.”
In a related operation, NDLEA operatives arrested a 45-year-old PhD student of the University of Putra, Malaysia, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State over an attempt to export 5.8 kilograms of cocaine to Kuala Lumpur.
The agency said the cocaine was concealed inside the walls of nine cartons of Orijin bitters, which formed part of a consolidated cargo destined for Malaysia.
Babafemi disclosed that the arrest followed weeks of intelligence-driven investigations after officers intercepted the cocaine-laden consignment and initially apprehended four suspects in Lagos.
Those arrested include a cargo agent, Alalade Taiwo Azeez; a driver, Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi; a trader at ASPANDA Market, Trade Fair Complex, Lagos, Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie; and Igwilo Chidi Henry, who allegedly supplied the cartons used to conceal the drugs.
The investigations, according to the agency, eventually led operatives to Onyeka, who was arrested at his hideout in Aziora, Ozubulu, Anambra State, where he was identified as the alleged leader of the trafficking syndicate.
In Taraba State, NDLEA operatives also arrested a 30-year-old suspect, Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke, along the Zaki-Biam-Wukari Road with 43,980 capsules of Tramadol hidden inside two vehicle fuel tanks.
The agency recorded more arrests across the country.
In Kaduna State, two suspects, Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, were arrested with 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine during a raid in Gwantu.
In Ebonyi State, operatives apprehended 65-year-old Francis Ifara Eja with 231.7 kilograms of skunk, while a 75-year-old suspect, Alhaji Babani, was arrested in Plateau State with 15 kilograms of the same substance.
Similarly, NDLEA officers in Gombe State 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.
Babafemi added that the agency sustained its nationwide War Against Drug Abuse campaign with sensitisation programmes in schools, workplaces, worship centres and communities across several states.
Commending officers involved in the operations, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged personnel across the country to sustain the momentum in disrupting drug trafficking networks while intensifying public enlightenment against drug abuse.
FOLLOW US
