NDLEA Intercepts 13kg Cocaine Concealed In Plantain Peels, Arrests Nigerian-British Grandmother

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-british grandma, identified as Mary Yetunde Barek, after 13 kilograms of suspected cocaine concealed in peels of plantain, which appeared as real plantains and packed among other food items in her luggage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos was discovered.

NDLEA’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, 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.

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 total, Babafemi said.

The statement quoted the elderly woman as admitting full 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 the arrest of Nwabueze in Anambra state followed the interception of 36 parcels of cocaine, weighing 5.80 kilogrammes, hidden in the walls of the herbal drink cartons.

Four suspects first arrested in some 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, leading to the unmasking of Nwabueze hiding in his village Aziora, Ozubulu, Anambra state 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 stressed, “Two suspects: Boniface Agu, 65 and Monday Nwaeze, 50 were arrested in possession of 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine by NDLEA officers on Thursday, July 2 during a raid operation at Gwantu, Gwantu LGA Kaduna state. “While a 65-year-old suspect Francis Ifara Eja was nabbed with 231.7kg skunk at Ikwo, Ebonyi state on Saturday, July 4. “Similarly, a 75-year-old grandpa Alhaji Babani was arrested with 15kg skunk at Kurgwi, Qua’anpan LGA, Plateau state on Friday July 3.”

The statement said 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 Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) applauded the officers and men of MMIA, Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Plateau and Gombe Commands for the arrests and seizures, noting that their drug supply reduction efforts were in tandem with WADA sensitisation activities, while he implored them and their compatriots across the country to keep raising the operational bar.