The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-British woman at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, after operatives uncovered 13 kilograms of cocaine ingeniously concealed in fake plantain peels packed alongside food items in her luggage, as the agency intensified its nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking networks.
The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed on Sunday in a statement that the suspect, Mrs. Mary Yetunde Barek, who works as a caregiver in the United Kingdom, was apprehended at the departure hall of Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport on Sunday, June 28, while attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London.
According to Babafemi, a detailed search of her luggage led to the recovery of 31 large wraps of cocaine expertly moulded to resemble fresh hands of plantain, with a total weight of 13 kilograms.
He said the suspect admitted ownership of the illicit consignment during interrogation.
In a related operation, NDLEA operatives dismantled an international drug trafficking syndicate after arresting a 45-year-old PhD student of the University of Putra, Malaysia, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, identified as the alleged mastermind behind the attempted export of 5.8 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside the walls of nine cartons of Orijin bitters destined for Kuala Lumpur.
Babafemi said Onyeka was arrested during a sting operation in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State on June 29 after investigators tracked the shipment to its source.
The operation followed the earlier arrest of four suspects in Lagos, including cargo agent Alalade Taiwo Azeez, driver Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi, trader Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie and Igwilo Chidi Henry, who allegedly supplied the specially modified cartons used to conceal the narcotics.
Investigations eventually led operatives to Onyeka’s hideout in Aziora, Ozubulu, Anambra State, where he was arrested as the alleged leader of the trafficking syndicate.
In Taraba State, Babafemi said NDLEA officers acting on intelligence intercepted Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke, 30, along the Wukari-Zaki Biam Road with 43,980 capsules of Tramadol hidden inside two modified vehicle fuel tanks while transporting the drugs from Onitsha, Anambra State.
The agency also recorded major seizures in other states.
In Kaduna State, operatives arrested Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, during a raid in Gwantu, where they were found with 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine.
In Ebonyi State, officers arrested Francis Ifara Eja, 65, with 231.7 kilograms of skunk in Ikwo, while in Plateau State, a 75-year-old suspect, Alhaji Babani, was apprehended with 15 kilograms of skunk at Kurgwi in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area.
Similarly, in Gombe State, NDLEA operatives arrested Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, at Kuri village in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area with 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 556 kilograms.
Commending officers of the MMIA, Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Plateau and Gombe Commands for the successful operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), praised their commitment to disrupting drug supply chains while simultaneously advancing preventive awareness campaigns.
He urged operatives across the country to sustain the momentum and continue raising the agency’s operational standards in the fight against illicit drugs.
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