The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-British grandmother, Mrs Mary Yetunde Barek, after operatives discovered 13 kilograms of cocaine disguised as plantains in her luggage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
Barek, who works as a caregiver in the United Kingdom, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal 2 on Sunday, June 28, while attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London.
A search of her bags uncovered 31 wraps of cocaine packaged to resemble plantain hands. She admitted ownership of the drugs in her statement.
In a related operation, NDLEA operatives on Monday, June 29, arrested a 45-year-old PhD student at Universiti Putra Malaysia, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, identifying him as the leader of a syndicate smuggling cocaine to Kuala Lumpur concealed in the walls of Orijin Bitters cartons. The seizure of 36 parcels weighing 5.80 kilograms was part of a consolidated cargo shipment.
Four other suspects were earlier arrested in Lagos in connection with the operation: cargo agent Alalade Taiwo Azeez; driver Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi; trader Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie; and Igwilo Chidi Henry, who allegedly supplied the cartons used for concealment.
Investigators traced Nwabueze to his home village of Aziora, Ozubulu.
In Taraba State, operatives arrested Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke, 30, on Saturday, July 4, along the Zaki-Biam Road in Wukari LGA with 43,980 tramadol capsules hidden inside two vehicle fuel tanks while travelling from Onitsha, Anambra State.
Other seizures reported by the agency over the past week include:
Kaduna: Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, were arrested on Thursday, July 2, with 1.7kg of methamphetamine in Gwantu.
Ebonyi: Francis Ifara Eja, 65, was arrested on Saturday, July 4, with 231.7kg of skunk in Ikwo.
Plateau: Alhaji Babani, 75, was arrested on Friday, July 3, with 15kg of skunk in Kurgwi, Qua’an Pan LGA.
The agency extended its operations to Gombe State, where Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, were arrested on Wednesday, July 1, with 587 blocks (556kg) of cannabis sativa in Kuri village, Yamaltu-Deba LGA.
It also conducted War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools and communities nationwide, including at 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.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd) commended operatives across the affected commands, describing the arrests as evidence of a balance between supply reduction efforts and public sensitisation, and urged personnel nationwide to sustain the momentum.
