The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-British woman at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, after allegedly attempting to smuggle 13 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside fake plantain peels to the United Kingdom.
The suspect, identified as Mrs. Mary Barek, was apprehended at the departure hall of Terminal 2 on Sunday, June 28, while preparing to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, operatives discovered 31 large wraps of cocaine ingeniously packaged to resemble hands of plantain during a detailed search of the suspect’s luggage.
The illicit drug consignments were reportedly packed alongside other food items in an attempt to evade detection.
Babafemi said the recovered cocaine weighed a total of 13 kilograms, adding that the suspect admitted ownership of the drugs during interrogation.
“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,” he said.
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives arrested a 45-year-old doctoral student at the University of Putra, Malaysia, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, over an alleged attempt to export cocaine concealed inside cartons of Orijin Bitters destined for Kuala Lumpur.
Babafemi said Onyeka was arrested on June 29 in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State after investigators identified him as the alleged mastermind of a drug trafficking syndicate.
The arrest followed the interception of a consolidated cargo shipment in Lagos, where officers recovered 36 parcels of cocaine weighing 5.80 kilograms hidden within the walls of nine cartons of the herbal alcoholic beverage.
The agency disclosed that investigations initially led to the arrest of four suspects in Lagos. They include cargo agent Alalade Taiwo Azeez, driver Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi, ASPANDA Market trader Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie, and Igwilo Chidi Henry, who allegedly supplied the specially prepared cartons used to conceal the drugs.
Babafemi said sustained intelligence gathering eventually led operatives to Onyeka’s hideout in Aziora, Ozubulu, Anambra State.
“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,” he stated.
Beyond its enforcement activities, the anti-narcotics agency said it continued its nationwide War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through awareness programmes targeted at schools, workplaces, places of worship and local communities.
The sensitisation campaigns were held at Girls Secondary School, Abagana, Anambra State; Government Technical College, Obe, Enugu State; Adeola Odutola College, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State; and the Federal College of Education Staff Demonstration School, Kabuga, Kano State, among other locations.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the operations for sustaining the agency’s dual approach of drug enforcement and public education.
According to Babafemi, Marwa praised personnel of the MMIA, Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Plateau and Gombe Commands for recent arrests and drug seizures while encouraging them to maintain the momentum in disrupting illicit drug networks and expanding public awareness campaigns.
