The NDLEA has arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-British grandmother for allegedly attempting to smuggle 13 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside fake plantain peels through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
According to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the NDLEA arrests Nigerian-British grandmother operation took place on Sunday, June 28, when the suspect, identified as Mrs. Mary Barek, was intercepted at the departure hall of Terminal 2 while preparing to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London.
The agency said Barek, who reportedly works as a caregiver in the United Kingdom, was subjected to a detailed search after officers became suspicious of her luggage.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi disclosed that operatives discovered 31 large wraps of cocaine weighing 13 kilograms, carefully disguised as hands of plantain and packed alongside food items to avoid detection.
According to the agency, the suspect admitted ownership of the illicit drugs during interrogation.
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives arrested 45-year-old PhD student Nwabueze Felix Onyeka of the University of Putra, Malaysia, over an alleged attempt to export cocaine concealed inside cartons of Orijin Bitters bound for Kuala Lumpur.
Onyeka was arrested on June 29 in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State after investigators identified him as the alleged leader of a drug trafficking syndicate.
The agency said officers had earlier intercepted 36 parcels of cocaine weighing 5.80 kilograms, hidden inside the walls of nine cartons of the herbal alcoholic drink that formed part of a consolidated export cargo.
During the investigation, four additional suspects were arrested in Lagos.
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 drugs.
In Taraba State, NDLEA operatives arrested Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke, 30, along the Zaki-Biam Road in Wukari Local Government Area on July 4.
The agency recovered 43,980 capsules of Tramadol hidden inside two specially modified fuel tanks of a vehicle.
In Kaduna State, operatives arrested Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, in Gwantu Local Government Area on July 2, recovering 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Similarly, in Ebonyi State, Francis Ifara Eja, 65, was arrested with 231.7 kilograms of skunk in Ikwo on July 4.
Another suspect, Alhaji Babani, 75, was apprehended in Qua’anpan Local Government Area of Plateau State on July 3 with 15 kilograms of skunk.
In Gombe State, NDLEA officers arrested Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, at Kuri village in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area.
The agency said the suspects were found with 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 556 kilograms.
Beyond enforcement operations, the NDLEA said it continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) awareness campaign across Nigeria.
The sensitisation programme was carried out in schools, workplaces, religious centres and communities, including Girls Secondary School, Abagana in Anambra State, Government Technical College, Obe in Enugu State, Adeola Odutola College, Ijebu Ode in Ogun State, and FCE Staff Demonstration School, Kabuga in Kano State.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers across the MMIA, Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Plateau and Gombe Commands for combining aggressive anti-drug operations with public education efforts.
He urged operatives nationwide to sustain the momentum in tackling drug trafficking while expanding awareness campaigns aimed at preventing drug abuse across communities.
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