NDLEA arrests Nigerian-British grandma with 13kg cocaine concealed in plantain peels

…Intercepts Malaysia-bound cocaine shipments hidden in walls of Orijin bitters cartons utter rma

…75-year-old grandpa in Plateau, recovers large tramadol consignments in fuel tanks

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it has arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-British grandma, Mary Yetunde Barek, over the discovery of 13 kilograms of cocaine concealed in peels of plantain.

Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, said the consignments were packed among other food items in her luggage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos.

The suspect who works as 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 28th June 2026.

According to the NDLEA, 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”

The NDLEA revealed that another sting operation in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State on Monday 29th June 2026  resulted in 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 arrest of Nwabueze followed the interception of 36 parcels of cocaine, with a gross weight of 5.80 kilograms, concealed within the walls of the herbal drink cartons.

The NDLEA said four other suspects initially arrested in parts of Lagos during investigations include: the cargo agent, Alalade Azeez; the driver who conveyed the consignment to the cargo agent, Ndem Kelechi; a trader at ASPANDA market, Trade Fair Complex, Lagos who handed over the consignment to the driver for delivery to the cargo agent, Okeke Chimezie and an accomplice who supplied the cartons of Origin bitters used in concealing the cocaine, Igwilo Henry.

“The efforts eventually paid off, leading to the unmasking of Nwabueze hiding in his village Aziora, Ozubulu, Anambra state as the leader of the syndicate.”

In Taraba, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence on Saturday 4th July 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, on their way  from Onitsha, Anambra state.

“Two suspects: Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, were arrested in possession of 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine by NDLEA officers on Thursday 2nd July during a raid operation at Gwantu, Gwantu LGA Kaduna state”

The anti-nacortic agency also revealed that a 65-year-old suspect Francis Eja was nabbed with 231.7kg skunk at Ikwo, Ebonyi state on Saturday 4th July. Similarly, a 75-year-old grandpa Alhaji Babani was arrested in possession of 15kg skunk at Kurgwi, Qua’anpan LGA, Plateau state on Friday 3rd July.

In Gombe, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence on Wednesday 1st July arrested the duo of Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, at Kuri village, Yamaltu- Deba LGA, where they were found with 587 blocks of cannabis sativa, weighing 556 kilograms.

In their bid to rid Nigeria of the drug menace, the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities in schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others.