A 67-year-old Nigerian-British grandmother has been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) after operatives uncovered 13 kilograms of cocaine ingeniously concealed in fake plantain peels at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The suspect, Mrs. Mary Yetunde Barek, who works as a caregiver in the United Kingdom, was intercepted at the departure hall of Terminal 2 while attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London on Sunday, June 28, 2026.
According to the NDLEA, a thorough search of her luggage led to the discovery of 31 large wraps of cocaine carefully packaged to resemble fresh plantain hands and hidden among other food items. The illicit consignment weighed a total of 13 kilograms.
The agency said the suspect admitted ownership of the cocaine during interrogation.
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives dismantled an international drug trafficking syndicate following the arrest of a 45-year-old PhD student at the University of Putra, Malaysia, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Onyeka was arrested on June 29 after investigators traced him to his village, Aziora, Ozubulu, following the interception of 36 parcels of cocaine weighing 5.8 kilograms concealed within the walls of nine cartons of Orijin Bitters destined for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The agency disclosed that four suspects had earlier been arrested in Lagos during investigations into the shipment. They include cargo agent Alalade Taiwo Azeez, driver Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi, trader Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie, and Igwilo Chidi Henry, who allegedly supplied the cartons used to conceal the cocaine.
NDLEA said intelligence gathered from the suspects eventually led to Onyeka, whom investigators identified as the leader of the drug syndicate.
In Taraba State, operatives arrested a 30-year-old suspect, Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke, on Saturday, July 4, along the Zaki-Biam Road in Wukari Local Government Area while transporting 43,980 capsules of Tramadol concealed inside two vehicle fuel tanks. He was reportedly travelling from Onitsha, Anambra State.
The agency also recorded major seizures in Kaduna, Ebonyi, Plateau and Gombe states.
In Kaduna, two suspects, Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, were arrested during a raid in Gwantu with 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine.
In Ebonyi State, NDLEA operatives apprehended 65-year-old Francis Ifara Eja with 231.7 kilograms of skunk at Ikwo on July 4.
Similarly, a 75-year-old suspect, Alhaji Babani, was arrested with 15 kilograms of skunk in Kurgwi, Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State on July 3.
In Gombe State, operatives acting on intelligence arrested Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, at Kuri village in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area, where they recovered 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 556 kilograms.
Beyond enforcement operations, the agency said it sustained its nationwide War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through sensitisation programmes in schools, workplaces, worship centres and communities.
The enlightenment campaigns 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 FCE Staff Demonstration School, Kabuga in Kano State, among other institutions.
Commending officers involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa, praised personnel of the MMIA, Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi and Gombe Commands for their successful arrests and seizures.
Marwa said the commands had maintained a commendable balance between aggressive drug supply reduction operations and public enlightenment through the War Against Drug Abuse campaign, urging officers across the country to sustain the momentum and continue raising the agency’s operational standards.
