Nigerian-British Grandma Nabbed by NDLEA with 13kg Cocaine in Plantain Disguise at Lagos Airport

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the apprehension of Mrs. Mary Barek, a 67-year-old Nigerian-British national who works as a caregiver in the United Kingdom. She was arrested on Sunday, June 28, at the departure hall of Terminal 2, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while allegedly attempting to traffic 13 kilograms of cocaine. The illicit substance was cleverly concealed within fake plantain peels, intended for a Virgin Atlantic flight bound for London.

According to a statement released by Mr. Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, a thorough inspection of Mrs. Barek's luggage led to the discovery of 31 large parcels of cocaine. These parcels were meticulously packaged to mimic hands of plantain and mixed with other food items. Babafemi quoted, “A thorough search of her bags resulted in the discovery of 31 big wraps of cocaine which were packaged to appear like plantain hands, weighing a total of 13 kilograms. In her statement, the elderly woman admitted full ownership of the recovered cocaine exhibits.”

In a separate but related operation, the NDLEA also disclosed the arrest of Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, a 45-year-old PhD student at the University of Putra, Malaysia. Onyeka was apprehended on June 29 in the Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, following an investigation that identified him as the alleged mastermind of a drug trafficking ring. His syndicate reportedly attempted to export cocaine hidden inside cartons of Orijin Bitters, destined for Kuala Lumpur. Prior to Onyeka’s arrest, operatives had intercepted 36 parcels of cocaine, weighing 5.80 kilograms, which were found hidden within the walls of nine cartons of the herbal drink in Lagos. Four individuals were initially taken into custody during the Lagos investigation: Alalade Taiwo Azeez, the cargo agent; Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi, the driver of the consignment; Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie, a trader at ASPANDA Market; and Igwilo Chidi Henry, who allegedly supplied the cartons for concealment. Babafemi stated that these efforts culminated in “the unmasking of Nwabueze hiding in his village Aziora, Ozubulu, Anambra State as the leader of the syndicate.”

Further enforcement actions across various states yielded more arrests and seizures. In Taraba State, on Saturday, July 4, NDLEA operatives arrested 30-year-old Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke along the Zaki-Biam Road in Wukari Local Government Area, recovering 43,980 capsules of Tramadol from specially modified vehicle fuel tanks. On July 2, in Gwantu Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, were arrested, and 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine were seized. Ebonyi State saw the arrest of 65-year-old Francis Ifara Eja with 231.7 kilograms of skunk at Ikwo on July 4. Meanwhile, in Kurgwi, Qua’anpan Local Government Area of Plateau State, 75-year-old Alhaji Babani was apprehended with 15 kilograms of skunk on July 3. In Gombe State, Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, were arrested on July 1 at Kuri village in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area with 587 blocks of cannabis sativa, totaling 556 kilograms.

Beyond these enforcement efforts, the NDLEA reiterated its commitment to the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign. Commands nationwide sustained sensitisation programmes in various settings, including Girls Secondary School, Abagana, Anambra State; Government Technical College, Obe, Enugu State; Adeola Odutola College, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State; and the FCE Staff Demonstration School, Kabuga, Kano State, among others, reaching schools, workplaces, worship centres, and communities.

Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, lauded the officers involved in these recent operations. He commended the commands for their balanced approach, combining drug supply reduction efforts with public enlightenment activities. Marwa was quoted as saying he “commended the officers and men of MMIA, Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Plateau, and Gombe Commands for the arrests and seizures,” and charged them and other officers across the country to “continue to raise the operational bar.”