How NDLEA Arrested 67-Year-Old Nigerian-British Grandma with 13kg Cocaine Hidden in Plantain Peels intercepted Cocaine in Orijin bitters cartons,
Oru Leonard
Abuja — Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-British grandmother, Mrs. Mary Yetunde Barek, after uncovering 13 kilograms of cocaine ingeniously concealed in fake plantain peels packed among food items in her luggage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The suspect, who works as a caregiver in the United Kingdom, was intercepted at the departure hall of Terminal 2 while attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London on Sunday, June 28, 2026.
According to the NDLEA, a detailed search of her luggage led to the discovery of 31 large wraps of cocaine carefully moulded to resemble fresh plantain hands and hidden among other food items. The illicit drug weighed a total of 13 kilograms.
During interrogation, the suspect reportedly admitted ownership of the seized cocaine.
In a related operation, NDLEA operatives dismantled an international drug trafficking syndicate with the arrest of a 45-year-old PhD student of the University of Putra, Malaysia, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, identified as the alleged mastermind behind the attempted export of 5.8 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the walls of nine cartons of Orijin Bitters bound for Kuala Lumpur.
The suspect was arrested during a sting operation in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State on June 29 after investigations linked him to the intercepted consignment.
The investigation had earlier led to the arrest of four suspects in Lagos, including cargo agent Alalade Taiwo Azeez, driver Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi, trader Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie and Igwilo Chidi Henry, who allegedly supplied the specially modified cartons used to conceal the cocaine. Their arrests eventually led operatives to Onyeka, who was tracked to his village in Aziora, Ozubulu, Anambra State.
In Taraba State, NDLEA operatives on July 4 arrested Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke, 30, along the Zaki-Biam-Wukari road after discovering 43,980 capsules of tramadol hidden inside two vehicle fuel tanks during a routine operation.
In Kaduna State, two suspects, Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, were arrested during a raid in Gwantu with 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Similarly, operatives arrested 65-year-old Francis Ifara Eja in Ebonyi State with 231.7 kilograms of skunk, while a 75-year-old suspect, Alhaji Babani, was apprehended in Plateau State with 15 kilograms of the same substance.
In Gombe State, NDLEA officers acting on intelligence arrested Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, at Kuri village in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area, recovering 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 556 kilograms.
Beyond enforcement operations, the agency said it sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through sensitisation programmes in schools and communities across Anambra, Enugu, Ogun and Kano states to educate young people and the public on the dangers of drug abuse.
Commending officers of the MMIA, Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Plateau and Gombe Commands for the successful operations, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, praised their efforts in reducing drug supply while sustaining nationwide drug demand reduction campaigns, urging them to maintain the momentum in the fight against illicit drugs.
