RismadarVoice Reporters, July 5, 2026
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-British grandmother, Mary Yetunde Barek, for allegedly attempting to smuggle 13 kilograms of cocaine concealed in fake plantain peels through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
According to the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, Barek, a caregiver based in the United Kingdom, was arrested on June 28 at the departure hall of Terminal 2 while attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London.
A search of her luggage reportedly uncovered 31 large wraps of cocaine packaged to resemble plantain and hidden among food items. The suspect allegedly admitted ownership of the illicit drugs during interrogation.
In a separate operation, the NDLEA arrested a 45-year-old PhD student at the University of Putra, Malaysia, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, in Anambra State over the attempted export of 5.8 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside nine cartons of Orijin Bitters destined for Malaysia.
The agency said investigations led to the arrest of four suspects in Lagos before Onyeka, identified as the alleged leader of the syndicate, was apprehended in Ozubulu, Anambra State.
Elsewhere, NDLEA operatives arrested a suspect in Taraba State with 43,980 capsules of Tramadol concealed inside the fuel tank of a vehicle travelling from Onitsha.
In Kaduna State, two suspects were arrested with 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine, while in Ebonyi and Plateau states, two elderly suspects aged 65 and 75 were apprehended with 231.7 kilograms and 15 kilograms of skunk, respectively.
In Gombe State, officers arrested two suspects and recovered 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 556 kilograms.
The agency also disclosed that its commands nationwide have continued drug abuse prevention campaigns under the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative through sensitisation programmes in schools and communities.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the operations and urged them to sustain efforts in combating drug trafficking and promoting public awareness against drug abuse.
