A 67-year-old Nigerian-British grandmother has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) after 13 kilograms of suspected cocaine concealed inside plantain peels crafted to resemble fresh plantains was discovered among food items packed in her luggage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
The suspect, Mrs Mary Yetunde Barek, who is employed as a caregiver in the United Kingdom, was apprehended at the departure hall of Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport while preparing to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London on Sunday, June 28, 2026.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi disclosed the development in a statement released in Abuja on Sunday while outlining the agency’s nationwide operations recorded over the past week.
According to the statement, an intensive search of the suspect’s luggage led to the recovery of 31 large wraps of cocaine, carefully packaged to resemble bunches of plantain, with a combined weight of 13 kilogrammes.
“In her statement, the elderly woman admitted full ownership of the recovered cocaine exhibits,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, an intelligence-driven operation carried out in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State on Monday, June 29, 2026, led to the arrest of a 45-year-old PhD student at the University of Putra, Malaysia, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, following the seizure of 5.80 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed within the walls of nine cartons of Orijin Bitters, part of a consolidated cargo destined for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The statement explained that Nwabueze’s arrest in Anambra followed the interception of 36 parcels of cocaine, weighing a total of 5.80 kilogrammes, hidden inside the walls of the herbal drink cartons.
“Four suspects initially arrested in parts of Lagos during investigations include: the cargo agent, Alalade Taiwo Azeez; the driver who conveyed the consignment to the cargo agent, Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi; a trader at ASPANDA market, Trade Fair Complex, Lagos, who handed over the consignment to the driver for delivery to the cargo agent, Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie and an accomplice who supplied the cartons of Origin bitters used in concealing the cocaine, Igwilo Chidi Henry.
“The efforts eventually paid off, leading to the unmasking of Nwabueze hiding in his village Aziora, Ozubulu, Anambra state as the leader of the syndicate,” the statement said.
In Taraba State, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence on Saturday, July 4, arrested Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke, 30, after discovering 43,980 capsules of Tramadol concealed inside two vehicle fuel tanks along the Zaki-Biam Road in Wukari Local Government Area while he was travelling from Onitsha, Anambra State.
Two suspects, Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, were also arrested with 1.7 kilogrammes of methamphetamine during an NDLEA operation at Gwantu in Gwantu Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Thursday, July 2, while another 65-year-old suspect, Francis Ifara Eja, was apprehended with 231.7 kilogrammes of skunk at Ikwo in Ebonyi State on Saturday, July 4.
Similarly, a 75-year-old man, Alhaji Babani, was arrested with 15 kilogrammes of skunk at Kurgwi in Qua’anpan Local Government Area of Plateau State on Friday, July 3.
In Gombe State, the statement said NDLEA operatives, acting on credible intelligence on Wednesday, July 1, arrested Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, at Kuri village in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area, where they were found in possession of 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 556 kilogrammes.
“With the same level of dedication, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week,” the statement noted.
While applauding officers and personnel of the MMIA, Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Plateau and Gombe Commands for the successful arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), said their achievements in reducing the supply of illicit drugs were effectively complemented by sustained WADA sensitisation campaigns.
He urged them, as well as other officers across the country, to sustain the momentum and continue raising the agency’s operational standards.
