NDLEA Arrests Nigerian-British Grandma with 13kg Cocaine in Plantain Peels
Agency nabs PhD student mastermind, 75-year-old grandpa, intercepts tramadol in fuel tanks
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-British grandmother, Mrs. Mary Yetunde Barek, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos, with 13 kilograms of cocaine concealed in plantain peels.
According to a press statement signed by NDLEA Director, Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the suspect, who works as a caregiver in the United Kingdom, was apprehended on Sunday, 28th June 2026, at the departure hall of Terminal 2 while attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London. A thorough search of her luggage revealed 31 big wraps of cocaine packaged to resemble hands of plantain and hidden among other food items. The total weight was 13 kilograms. In her statement, the elderly woman admitted full ownership of the exhibits.
In another major bust, NDLEA operatives carried out a sting operation in Ekwusigo LGA, Anambra State, on Monday, 29th June, leading to the arrest of a 45-year-old PhD student at the University of Putra, Malaysia, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka. He was identified as the mastermind of a syndicate that concealed 5.80 kilograms of cocaine in the walls of nine cartons of Orijin bitters as part of a consolidated cargo heading to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Babafemi disclosed that the seizure followed the earlier interception of 36 parcels of cocaine, weighing 5.80kg, hidden within herbal drink cartons. Four suspects were earlier arrested in Lagos during the investigation: cargo agent Alalade Taiwo Azeez; driver Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi; trader Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie; and accomplice Igwilo Chidi Henry, who supplied the cartons. The operation eventually led to the unmasking of Nwabueze, who was found hiding in his village, Aziora, Ozubulu, Anambra State.
Other significant arrests were recorded across the country. In Taraba, NDLEA operatives on Saturday, 4th July, arrested Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke, 30, with 43,980 capsules of Tramadol concealed inside two vehicle fuel tanks along Zaki-Biam Road, Wukari LGA. The suspect was coming from Onitsha, Anambra State. In Kaduna, Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, were arrested on Thursday, 2nd July, with 1.7kg of methamphetamine during a raid at Gwantu, Gwantu LGA.
In Ebonyi and Plateau States, the agency also made key arrests. On Saturday, 4th July, Francis Ifara Eja, 65, was nabbed with 231.7kg of skunk at Ikwo, Ebonyi State. A day earlier, 75-year-old Alhaji Babani was arrested with 15kg of skunk at Kurgwi, Qua’anpan LGA, Plateau State. In Gombe, Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, were arrested on Wednesday, 1st July, at Kuri village, Yamaltu-Deba LGA, with 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 556kg.
Beyond enforcement, Babafemi said NDLEA Commands continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities in the past week. These included lectures at Girls Secondary School, Abagana, Anambra; Government Technical College, Obe, Enugu; Adeola Odutola College, Ijebu Ode, Ogun; and FCE Staff Demonstration School, Kabuga, Kano, among others.
Commending the officers of MMIA, Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi and Gombe Commands, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, Rtd, praised the balance of drug supply reduction and prevention efforts. He charged personnel nationwide to “continue to raise the operational bar” in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse.
