Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-British woman, Mrs. Mary Yetunde Barek, for attempting to smuggle 13 kilograms of cocaine concealed in plantain peels through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, as the Agency also dismantled an international drug trafficking syndicate and recorded multiple major drug seizures across the country.
According to an official statement signed by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr. Femi Babafemi, the suspect, who works as a caregiver in the United Kingdom, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport while attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London on Sunday, June 28, 2026.
The statement disclosed that a thorough search of her luggage led to the discovery of 31 large wraps of cocaine carefully packaged to resemble fresh plantain hands and concealed among food items. The illicit substance weighed a total of 13 kilograms.
The Agency said the suspect admitted ownership of the cocaine during interrogation.
In another breakthrough, NDLEA operatives uncovered an international drug trafficking network after intercepting 36 parcels of cocaine weighing 5.80 kilograms concealed within the walls of nine cartons of Orijin bitters destined for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The statement revealed that the interception led to the arrest of four suspects in Lagos, including cargo agent Alalade Taiwo Azeez; driver Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi, who transported the consignment; trader Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie of ASPANDA Market, Trade Fair Complex, Lagos, who handed over the shipment; and Igwilo Chidi Henry, who supplied the specially modified cartons used to conceal the cocaine.
Further intelligence-driven investigations culminated in a sting operation in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State on June 29, 2026, where operatives arrested 45-year-old Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, a PhD student at the University of Putra, Malaysia. NDLEA identified him as the alleged mastermind of the international drug syndicate after tracking him to his hometown of Aziora, Ozubulu.
Elsewhere, NDLEA operatives in Taraba State arrested 30-year-old Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke along the Zaki-Biam-Wukari Road on July 4 after recovering 43,980 capsules of Tramadol ingeniously concealed inside two vehicle fuel tanks. Investigators said the suspect was transporting the illicit drugs from Onitsha, Anambra State.
In Kaduna State, officers arrested two suspects, Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, during a raid in Gwantu Local Government Area on July 2. They were found in possession of 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine.
The anti-narcotics agency also recorded significant cannabis seizures in different parts of the country. In Ebonyi State, operatives arrested 65-year-old Francis Ifara Eja at Ikwo on July 4 with 231.7 kilograms of skunk, while in Plateau State, a 75-year-old suspect, Alhaji Babani, was apprehended on July 3 at Kurgwi in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area with 15 kilograms of the same substance.
Similarly, in Gombe State, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence arrested Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, at Kuri village in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area on July 1. The suspects were found with 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 556 kilograms.
Beyond enforcement operations, the Agency sustained its nationwide War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign through sensitisation programmes in schools, workplaces, places of worship and communities. The enlightenment activities were conducted at 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, among other locations.
Commending the officers and personnel of the MMIA, Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Plateau and Gombe Commands for their outstanding performances, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised their commitment to reducing the supply of illicit drugs while sustaining public sensitisation through the WADA campaign. He urged officers and commands across the country to continue raising the operational standard in the Agency’s ongoing fight against drug trafficking and abuse.
