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 hidden inside fake plantain peels through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
The agency said the suspect, who works as a caregiver in the United Kingdom, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport on Saturday, June 28, while preparing to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London.
The arrest was disclosed on Sunday in a statement issued by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, who said a detailed search of the suspect’s luggage uncovered 31 large wraps of cocaine cleverly packaged to resemble hands of plantain.
According to the agency, the cocaine, weighing 13 kilograms, was packed alongside food items in an apparent attempt to evade security checks at the airport.
Babafemi said the elderly woman admitted ownership of the seized drugs during interrogation.
“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,” he said.
The arrest is one of several major drug interceptions recorded by the anti-narcotics agency in different parts of the country within the past week as it intensified efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks.
In another operation, NDLEA operatives arrested a 45-year-old PhD student at the University of Putra Malaysia, identified as Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, over an alleged attempt to export cocaine concealed inside cartons of Orijin Bitters destined for Kuala Lumpur.
According to the agency, Onyeka was arrested on June 29 in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State after investigators tracked him down to his hometown, where he had allegedly gone into hiding.
Babafemi said the suspect was identified as the alleged leader of a drug trafficking syndicate following weeks of investigation.
The agency explained that its officers had earlier intercepted a consolidated cargo bound for Malaysia and discovered 36 parcels of cocaine weighing 5.8 kilograms hidden inside the walls of nine cartons of the herbal alcoholic drink.
The discovery triggered an extensive investigation that led to the arrest of four other suspects in Lagos.
Those arrested include cargo agent Alalade Taiwo Azeez, driver Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi, trader Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie of ASPANDA Market at the Trade Fair Complex, and Igwilo Chidi Henry, who allegedly supplied the specially prepared cartons used to conceal the illicit drugs.
According to Babafemi, intelligence gathered from the suspects eventually led investigators to Onyeka.
“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,” he stated.
The agency also recorded major drug seizures in several states across the country.
In Taraba State, NDLEA operatives arrested 30-year-old Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke along the Zaki-Biam Road in Wukari Local Government Area on Saturday, July 4.
The agency said officers recovered 43,980 capsules of Tramadol hidden inside two specially modified fuel tanks of a vehicle.
According to the statement, the compartments had been professionally altered to conceal the drugs and avoid detection during routine checks.
In Kaduna State, operatives raided a location in Gwantu Local Government Area, where they arrested two suspects, Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50.
The NDLEA said about 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine were recovered during the operation.
In Ebonyi State, another elderly suspect, Francis Ifara Eja, aged 65, was arrested in Ikwo Local Government Area with 231.7 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis.
Similarly, a 75-year-old suspect identified as Alhaji Babani was arrested in Kurgwi, Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State, with 15 kilograms of skunk.
The anti-drug agency also announced another significant seizure in Gombe State, where two suspects, Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, were arrested at Kuri village in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area.
According to the NDLEA, officers recovered 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing a total of 556 kilograms from the suspects.
The latest arrests highlight the agency’s continued crackdown on drug trafficking networks operating through airports, highways and local communities across Nigeria.
In recent years, the NDLEA has intensified surveillance at the country’s international airports, ports and border communities in response to increasing attempts by drug traffickers to conceal narcotics in food items, household goods and export cargo.
The agency has repeatedly warned that criminal syndicates are adopting more sophisticated methods of concealing illicit drugs to beat security screening.
Apart from enforcement operations, the NDLEA said it has continued its nationwide War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign aimed at reducing drug demand through public education and awareness.
According to Babafemi, officers carried out sensitisation programmes in schools, workplaces, religious centres and communities across several states.
The campaign was recently held at 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, among other locations.
The NDLEA said the awareness programmes are designed to educate young people and members of the public on the dangers of drug abuse while encouraging communities to support the fight against illicit drug trafficking.
Commending officers involved in the recent operations, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, praised commands across the country for combining aggressive enforcement with sustained public enlightenment.
According to Babafemi, Marwa specifically commended officers from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Plateau and Gombe commands for the arrests and seizures recorded in recent operations.
He said the agency remained committed to reducing both the supply and demand for illicit drugs in Nigeria and urged officers nationwide to sustain the momentum by raising operational standards in the fight against drug trafficking and substance abuse.