The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-British woman for allegedly attempting to smuggle 13 kilograms of cocaine concealed in fake plantain peels through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The suspect, Mrs Mary Barek, was apprehended at Terminal 2 of the airport on June 28 while preparing to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London.
According to the NDLEA, operatives discovered 31 large wraps of cocaine carefully packaged to resemble hands of plantain and hidden among food items inside her luggage.
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NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said the suspect admitted ownership of the illicit substance after her arrest.
“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,” Babafemi said.
“In her statement, the elderly woman admitted full ownership of the recovered cocaine exhibits.”
The arrest forms part of a series of operations carried out by the anti-narcotics agency across the country in recent weeks.
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives arrested a 45-year-old PhD student at the University of Putra, Malaysia, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, over an alleged attempt to export cocaine concealed inside cartons of Orijin Bitters bound for Kuala Lumpur.
Investigators said Onyeka was arrested in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State after intelligence operations linked him to an international trafficking syndicate.
The agency had earlier intercepted 36 parcels of cocaine weighing 5.8 kilograms hidden within the walls of nine cartons of the herbal drink prepared for export.
Four suspects were initially arrested during investigations in Lagos, including a cargo agent, driver, trader and supplier allegedly involved in packaging and transporting the consignment.
According to the NDLEA, sustained investigations later led operatives to Aziora community in Ozubulu, Anambra State, where Onyeka was arrested as the alleged mastermind of the network.
In Taraba State, officers intercepted 43,980 capsules of Tramadol concealed inside specially modified fuel tanks of a vehicle along the Zaki-Biam Road in Wukari Local Government Area.
The agency also announced the arrest of two suspects in Kaduna State with 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine.
In Ebonyi, operatives recovered 231.7 kilograms of skunk from a suspect in Ikwo, while another suspect was arrested in Plateau State with 15 kilograms of the substance.
Two suspects were also apprehended in Gombe State with 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 556 kilograms.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), praised officers involved in the operations and urged commands nationwide to sustain aggressive enforcement efforts.
The agency said its War Against Drug Abuse campaign remains active in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities across the country, combining enforcement with public sensitisation as authorities intensify efforts to curb drug trafficking and abuse.
