- 67-Year-Old Grandmother, PhD Student Arrested in Major NDLEA Drug Bust
- Intercepts 13kg Cocaine Disguised as Plantain
- Seizes Cocaine, Tramadol, Cannabis in Nationwide Anti-Drug Operations
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-British grandmother, Mary Barek, for allegedly attempting to smuggle 13 kilograms of cocaine concealed in fake plantain peels through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the agency said Barek, a caregiver based in the United Kingdom, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal 2 on June 28 while attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London.
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In a statement issued by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the agency said a thorough search of the suspect’s luggage uncovered 31 large wraps of cocaine packaged to resemble hands of plantain and concealed alongside other food items.
Babafemi said the suspect admitted ownership of the drugs during interrogation.
In a separate operation, NDLEA arrested 45-year-old PhD student at the University of Putra, Malaysia, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, over an alleged attempt to export 5.8 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside cartons of Orijin Bitters bound for Kuala Lumpur.
According to the agency, Onyeka was arrested on June 29 in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State after investigations identified him as the alleged leader of a drug trafficking syndicate.
The agency disclosed that operatives had earlier intercepted 36 parcels of cocaine hidden inside the walls of nine cartons of the herbal drink prepared for export.
Four other suspects were initially arrested in Lagos during the investigation. They include cargo agent Alalade Taiwo Azeez, driver Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi, trader Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie, and Igwilo Chidi Henry, who allegedly supplied the cartons used to conceal the drugs.
Babafemi said intelligence gathering eventually led operatives to Onyeka’s hideout in Aziora, Ozubulu, Anambra State, where he was arrested.
The agency also announced several other arrests across the country.
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 inside specially modified fuel tanks.
In Kaduna State, Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, were arrested with 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine during a raid in Gwantu.
Similarly, Francis Ifara Eja, 65, was arrested with 231.7 kilograms of skunk in Ikwo, Ebonyi State, while Alhaji Babani, 75, was apprehended with 15 kilograms of skunk in Qua’anpan Local Government Area of Plateau State.
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 operations, the agency said it continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through sensitisation programmes in schools, workplaces, places of worship and communities across the country.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the operations for combining intelligence-led enforcement with public awareness campaigns, urging commands nationwide to sustain the momentum in the fight against illicit drugs.
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