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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-British grandmother, Mrs. Mary Barek, for allegedly attempting to smuggle 13 kilograms of cocaine concealed in fake plantain peels through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The suspect, who works as a caregiver in the United Kingdom, was apprehended at the departure hall of Terminal 2 on Sunday, June 28, while preparing to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, operatives uncovered 31 large wraps of cocaine carefully disguised as hands of plantain and packed alongside food items during a thorough search of the suspect’s luggage.
Babafemi said the seized cocaine weighed a total of 13 kilograms, adding that the suspect admitted ownership of the illicit substance during interrogation.
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives arrested a 45-year-old doctoral student at the University of Putra, Malaysia, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, for allegedly masterminding an attempt to export cocaine concealed inside cartons of Orijin Bitters destined for Kuala Lumpur.
Investigators traced Onyeka to his hometown in Aziora, Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, where he was arrested on June 29 after weeks of investigation.
The agency disclosed that officers had earlier intercepted 36 parcels of cocaine weighing 5.8 kilograms hidden within the walls of nine cartons of the herbal alcoholic drink, which formed part of a consolidated cargo bound for Malaysia.
The investigation initially led to the arrest of four suspects in Lagos, including cargo agent Alalade Taiwo Azeez, driver Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi, trader Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie of ASPANDA Market, Trade Fair Complex, and Igwilo Chidi Henry, who allegedly supplied the specially prepared cartons used to conceal the narcotics.
Babafemi said intelligence gathered from the suspects eventually exposed Onyeka as the alleged leader of the drug trafficking syndicate.
The NDLEA also recorded significant seizures in other parts of the country.
In Taraba State, operatives arrested 30-year-old Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke along the Zaki-Biam Road in Wukari Local Government Area on July 4 after recovering 43,980 capsules of Tramadol concealed inside two specially modified vehicle fuel tanks.
In Kaduna State, two suspects, Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, were arrested during a raid in Gwantu Local Government Area on July 2, with 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine allegedly recovered from them.
Similarly, operatives in Ebonyi State arrested 65-year-old Francis Ifara Eja with 231.7 kilograms of skunk at Ikwo on July 4, while 75-year-old Alhaji Babani was apprehended in Kurgwi, Qua’anpan Local Government Area of Plateau State, with 15 kilograms of the same substance.
In Gombe State, officers arrested Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, at Kuri village in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area on July 1, recovering 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 556 kilograms.
Beyond enforcement activities, the anti-narcotics agency said it continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through awareness programmes held in schools, workplaces, religious centres and communities across the country.
According to Babafemi, sensitisation exercises were conducted at Girls Secondary School, Abagana in Anambra State; Government Technical College, Obe in Enugu State; Adeola Odutola College, Ijebu Ode in Ogun State; and the Federal College of Education Staff Demonstration School, Kabuga, Kano State, among other locations.
Commending the officers involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), praised commands across Lagos, Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Plateau and Gombe states for sustaining the agency’s twin strategy of drug supply reduction and public enlightenment.
He urged personnel nationwide to maintain the momentum and continue raising the agency’s operational standards in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse.
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