Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-British woman, Mrs. Mary Yetunde Barek, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, after uncovering 13 kilograms of cocaine ingeniously concealed in fake plantain peels packed among food items in her luggage.
According to a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the suspect, a United Kingdom-based caregiver, was intercepted on Sunday, June 28, 2026, while attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London. A detailed search of her luggage led to the discovery of 31 wraps of cocaine, carefully packaged to resemble hands of plantain, with a total weight of 13 kilograms. She reportedly admitted ownership of the illicit consignment during interrogation.
In another major breakthrough, NDLEA operatives dismantled an international drug trafficking syndicate with the arrest of a 45-year-old PhD student at the University of Putra, Malaysia, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, identified as the alleged mastermind behind an attempt to smuggle 5.8 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside the walls of nine cartons of Orijin bitters destined for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The arrest followed the interception of the cocaine shipment and the apprehension of four suspects in Lagos, including cargo agent Alalade Taiwo Azeez, transporter Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi, trader Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie, and Igwilo Chidi Henry, who allegedly supplied the Orijin bitters cartons used to conceal the drugs. Further investigations led operatives to Onyeka’s hideout in Aziora, Ozubulu, Anambra State, where he was arrested on June 29.
The anti-narcotics agency also recorded significant seizures across several states. In Taraba State, officers arrested 30-year-old Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke on July 4 along the Zaki-Biam–Wukari Road after discovering 43,980 capsules of Tramadol hidden inside two vehicle fuel tanks.
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 on July 2. In Ebonyi State, NDLEA operatives recovered 231.7 kilograms of skunk from 65-year-old Francis Ifara Eja in Ikwo on July 4, while a 75-year-old suspect, Alhaji Babani, was arrested with 15 kilograms of skunk in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State on July 3.
In Gombe State, operatives acting on intelligence arrested Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, at Kuri village in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area on July 1, where they seized 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 556 kilograms.
Beyond enforcement operations, the Agency sustained its nationwide War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign with sensitization programmes in schools and communities, including Girls Secondary School, Abagana, Anambra State; Government Technical College, Obe, Enugu State; Adeola Odutola College, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State; and FCE Staff Demonstration School, Kabuga, Kano State.
Commending officers and personnel 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 (Rtd), praised their commitment to reducing drug supply while sustaining public awareness campaigns. He urged personnel across the country to continue raising the operational standard in the fight against illicit drug trafficking and abuse.
