NDLEA Arrests 67-Year-Old Nigerian-British Woman Over Alleged Cocaine Concealed in Fake Plantain Peels
NDLEA Arrests 67-Year-Old Nigerian-British Woman Over Alleged Cocaine Concealed in Fake Plantain Peels
NDLEA Arrests 67-Year-Old Nigerian-British Woman Over Alleged Cocaine Concealed in Fake Plantain Peels
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-British woman, Mrs. Mary Barek, for allegedly attempting to smuggle 13 kilograms of cocaine concealed in fake plantain peels through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the suspect, a caregiver based in the United Kingdom, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal 2 on June 28 while preparing to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London.
According to the agency, a search of her luggage uncovered 31 wraps of cocaine weighing 13 kilograms, carefully disguised as hands of plantain and packed alongside food items. Babafemi said the suspect admitted ownership of the illicit drugs during interrogation.
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives arrested a 45-year-old PhD student of the University of Putra, Malaysia, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, for allegedly masterminding an attempt to export cocaine concealed inside cartons of Orijin Bitters bound for Kuala Lumpur.
The agency said investigators had earlier intercepted 36 parcels of cocaine weighing 5.8 kilograms hidden in nine cartons of the herbal drink at a Lagos cargo facility. Four suspects, including a cargo agent, driver, trader and supplier of the cartons, were initially arrested before Onyeka was traced and apprehended in Ozubulu, Anambra State, on June 29.
In Taraba State, operatives arrested Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke, 30, along the Zaki-Biam Road in Wukari Local Government Area, recovering 43,980 capsules of Tramadol concealed in specially modified vehicle fuel tanks.
In Kaduna State, two suspects, Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, were arrested during a raid in Gwantu Local Government Area, where officers allegedly recovered 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine.
The agency also recorded major seizures in other states. In Ebonyi, Francis Ifara Eja, 65, was arrested with 231.7 kilograms of skunk in Ikwo, while in Plateau State, 75-year-old Alhaji Babani was apprehended with 15 kilograms of the same substance in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area.
In Gombe State, NDLEA operatives arrested Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, with 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 556 kilograms at Kuri village in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area.
Beyond enforcement, the agency said it continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign in schools, workplaces, worship centres and communities across the country, with awareness programmes held in Anambra, Enugu, Ogun, Kano and other states.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the operations, praising their efforts in reducing drug supply while sustaining public enlightenment campaigns, and urged commands nationwide to maintain the momentum in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse.
NDLEA Arrests 67-Year-Old Nigerian-British Woman Over Alleged Cocaine Concealed in Fake Plantain Peels
