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, a United Kingdom-based caregiver, was apprehended at the departure hall of Terminal 2 while preparing to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London on June 28.
NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, disclosed in a statement on Sunday that operatives discovered 31 large wraps of cocaine ingeniously packaged to resemble hands of plantain and hidden among food items in her luggage.
“A thorough search of her bags resulted in the discovery of 31 big wraps of cocaine which were packaged to appear like plantain hands, weighing a total of 13 kilograms. In her statement, the elderly woman admitted full ownership of the recovered cocaine exhibits,” Babafemi said.
In a related operation, the anti-narcotics agency arrested a Malaysia-based PhD student, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, for allegedly masterminding an attempt to export cocaine concealed in cartons of Orijin Bitters to Kuala Lumpur.
According to the NDLEA, Onyeka, a 45-year-old doctoral student at the University of Putra, Malaysia, was arrested on June 29 in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State after investigations linked him to a drug trafficking syndicate.
Babafemi said operatives had earlier intercepted 36 parcels of cocaine weighing 5.8 kilograms hidden inside the walls of nine cartons of the herbal alcoholic drink in a cargo consignment bound for Malaysia.
The agency revealed that four suspects were initially arrested in Lagos during the investigation, including 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 illicit drugs.
“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,” Babafemi stated.
The NDLEA also recorded major drug seizures across several states of the federation.In Taraba State, operatives arrested 30-year-old Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke along the Zaki-Biam Road in Wukari Local Government Area on July 4.
The agency said 43,980 capsules of Tramadol were recovered from two vehicle fuel tanks specially modified to conceal the drugs.Similarly, in Kaduna State, operatives raided Gwantu in Sanga Local Government Area on July 2, arresting Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, with 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine.
In Ebonyi State, a 65-year-old suspect, Francis Ifara Eja, was arrested at Ikwo with 231.7 kilograms of skunk, while in Plateau State, 75-year-old Alhaji Babani was apprehended with 15 kilograms of the same substance at Kurgwi in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area.
The agency further disclosed that two suspects, Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, were arrested in Gombe State with 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 556 kilograms at Kuri village in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area.
Beyond enforcement operations, the NDLEA said it continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign through awareness programmes in schools, workplaces, religious centres and communities across the country.
Babafemi noted that recent advocacy activities were conducted at several institutions, including 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.
Commending officers involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa, praised the agency’s commands for combining enforcement efforts with public enlightenment campaigns.
According to Babafemi, Marwa “commended the officers and men of MMIA, Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Plateau and Gombe Commands for the arrests and seizures,” noting that their drug supply reduction operations were effectively balanced with WADA sensitisation activities.
He urged officers across the country to sustain the momentum and continue raising the agency’s operational standards in the fight against illicit drug trafficking and abuse.
