Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-British woman, Mary Yetunde Barek, after allegedly discovering 13 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside fake plantain peels at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The suspect, a caregiver based in the United Kingdom, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal 2 while attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London on June 28. During a search of her luggage, NDLEA officers recovered 31 wraps of cocaine disguised as plantain hands and packed among food items.
The agency said Barek admitted ownership of the illicit drugs. In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives arrested a 45-year-old PhD student at the University of Putra Malaysia, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, over the attempted shipment of 5.8 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the walls of cartons of Orijin bitters destined for Kuala Lumpur.
The agency said Onyeka was arrested in Anambra State after investigations linked him to the intercepted consignment. Four other suspects, including a cargo agent, a driver, a trader, and another accomplice, were earlier arrested in Lagos as part of the investigation.
Elsewhere, NDLEA officers in Taraba State intercepted 43,980 capsules of tramadol hidden inside two vehicle fuel tanks and arrested 30-year-old Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke.In Kaduna State, two suspects were arrested with 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine, while a 65-year-old man was apprehended in Ebonyi State with 231.7 kilograms of skunk. In Plateau State, a 75-year-old suspect was also arrested after officers allegedly recovered 15 kilograms of skunk from him.
Meanwhile, in Gombe State, NDLEA operatives arrested two suspects in possession of 556 kilograms of cannabis sativa. The agency also said it continued its nationwide War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) awareness campaign in schools, communities, and other public institutions.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), commended officers involved in the operations and urged them to sustain efforts to curb drug trafficking while intensifying public sensitisation campaigns.
