NIGERIAN-BRITISH GRANDMOTHER ARRESTED AT LAGOS AIRPORT WITH 13KG COCAINE HIDDEN IN FAKE PLANTAIN PEELS
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a 67 year old Nigerian British woman, Mrs Mary Yetunde Barek, after officers uncovered 13 kilograms of cocaine concealed in fake plantain peels at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
According to the agency, Barek, a caregiver based in the United Kingdom, was intercepted at the departure hall of Terminal 2 while attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London on June 28, 2026. A detailed search of her luggage uncovered 31 large wraps of cocaine disguised as plantain hands and packed alongside other food items. The illicit drugs weighed a total of 13 kilograms.
NDLEA said the suspect admitted ownership of the cocaine during interrogation.
In a related operation, NDLEA operatives arrested a 45 year old doctoral student of the Universiti Putra Malaysia, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, following the interception of 5.8 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside the walls of nine cartons of Orijin Bitters destined for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The suspect was arrested during a sting operation in Ekwusigo Local Government Area after investigators dismantled a drug trafficking network linked to the shipment. Four earlier suspects arrested in Lagos included a cargo agent, a driver, a trader at ASPANDA Market, and another accomplice who allegedly supplied the cartons used to conceal the drugs. Investigators later identified Onyeka, who was arrested in his hometown of Aziora, Ozubulu, as the alleged leader of the syndicate.
In Taraba State, NDLEA officers arrested 30 year old Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke along the Zaki Biam Wukari road after discovering 43,980 capsules of tramadol concealed inside two vehicle fuel tanks. The suspect was travelling from Onitsha in Anambra State.
Further operations across the country resulted in additional arrests and seizures. 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, officers arrested Francis Ifara Eja, 65, with 231.7 kilograms of skunk at Ikwo. A 75 year old suspect, Alhaji Babani, was also arrested in Kurgwi, Qua'an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State with 15 kilograms of skunk.
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 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 556 kilograms were recovered.
The agency also continued its War Against Drug Abuse campaign through sensitisation programmes held in schools and communities across Anambra, Enugu, Ogun, and Kano States.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers of the MMIA, Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi, and Gombe Commands for the arrests and seizures. He urged personnel nationwide to sustain the agency's operational momentum while continuing public awareness campaigns against drug abuse.
