Mary Yetunde Barek, a 67-year-old Nigerian-british grandma, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) after 13 kilograms of suspected cocaine were found concealed in peels of plantain, which looked like real plantains and were packed along with other food items in her luggage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
NDLEA’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, in a statement issued Sunday in Abuja said the suspect, 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 airline flight to London on Sunday, June 28, 2026.
Babafemi said a detailed search of the suspect’s bags led to the recovery of 31 big wraps of cocaine, packaged to look like plantain hands, weighing 13 kilogrammes in total.
The statement cited the elderly woman as confessing complete ownership of the recovered cocaine exhibits in her statement.
In another development, the NDLEA said a sting operation in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State on Monday June 29 2026 has led to the arrest of a 45-year-old PhD student at the University of Putra, Malaysia, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka over the seizure of 5.80 kilograms of cocaine concealed in walls of nine cartons of Orijin bitters, a consignment that was part of a consolidated cargo heading to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The statement also said that the arrest of Nwabueze in Anambra state was sequel to the interception of 36 parcels of cocaine weighing 5.80 kilogrammes concealed in the walls of the herbal drink cartons.
The four suspects first arrested in certain parts of Lagos during investigations are: cargo agent, Alalade Taiwo Azeez; the driver that conveyed the consignment to the cargo agent, Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi; trader at ASPANDA market, Trade Fair Complex, Lagos, who handed over the consignment to the driver for delivery to the cargo agent, Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie and an accomplice who supplied the cartons of Origin bitters used in concealing the cocaine, Igwilo Chidi Henry. “The effort finally paid off as Nwabueze, who was hiding in his village Aziora, Ozubulu, Anambra state was unmasked as the leader of the syndicate.”
“Also on Saturday July 4, Babafemi and NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence arrested a suspect, Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke, 30, with 43,980 capsules of Tramadol concealed inside two vehicle fuel tanks along Zaki-biam road Wukari Local Government Area of the state while coming from Onitsha, Anambra state.
It said, “Two suspects: Boniface Agu, 65 and Monday Nwaeze, 50 were arrested with 1.7kilogram methamphetamine by NDLEA officers on Thursday, July 2 during a raid operation at Gwantu, Gwantu LGA Kaduna state. “Meanwhile, a 65-year-old suspect Francis Ifara Eja was arrested with 231.7kg skunk at Ikwo, Ebonyi state on Saturday, July 4. “Also, a 75-year-old grandpa Alhaji Babani was caught with 15kg skunk at Kurgwi, Qua’anpan LGA, Plateau state on Friday July 3.
The duo of Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, were arrested by NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence on Wednesday July 1 at Kuri village, Yamaltu- Deba LGA in Gombe State with 587 blocks of cannabis sativa, weighing 556 kilograms, the statement said.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) lauded the officers and men of MMIA, Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Plateau and Gombe Commands over the arrests and seizures, stating that their efforts at reducing drug supply were in line with WADA sensitisation activities, as he urged them and their compatriots across the country to keep raising the operational bar.
