NDLEA Arrests Nigerian-British Grandma Smuggling 13kg Cocaine In Plantain Peels

The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-british grandma, identified as Mary Yetunde Barek, following the discovery of 13 kilograms of suspected cocaine concealed in peels of plantain, which appeared as real plantains and packed among other food items in her luggage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

NEWSNGR reports that NDLEA’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, disclosed that 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, June 28, 2026.

Babafemi said a thorough search of the suspect’s bags resulted in the discovery of 31 big wraps of cocaine, which were packaged to appear like plantain hands, weighing a total of 13 kilogrammes.

According to the statement, the elderly woman in her statement, admitted full ownership of the recovered cocaine exhibits.

In another development, the NDLEA disclosed that a sting operation in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State on Monday June 29 2026 has 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 statement further stated that the arrest of Nwabueze in Anambra state 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 statement added, “Four suspects initially arrested in parts of Lagos during investigations include: the cargo agent, Alalade Taiwo Azeez; the driver who conveyed the consignment to the cargo agent, Ndem Ogbonna 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 Tochukwu Chimezie and an accomplice who supplied the cartons of Origin bitters used in concealing the cocaine, Igwilo Chidi 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.”

Babafemi also the NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence on Saturday July 4 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, while coming from Onitsha, Anambra state.

It stressed, “Two suspects: Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, were arrested in possession of 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine by NDLEA officers on Thursday, July 2 during a raid operation at Gwantu, Gwantu LGA Kaduna state, while a 65-year-old suspect Francis Ifara Eja was nabbed with 231.7kg skunk at Ikwo, Ebonyi state on Saturday, July 4. Similarly, a 75-year-old grandpa Alhaji Babani was arrested in possession of 15kg skunk at Kurgwi, Qua’anpan LGA, Plateau state on Friday July 3.”

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

While commending the officers and men of MMIA, Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Plateau, and Gombe Commands for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) noted that their drug supply reduction efforts were balanced with WADA sensitisation activities, while he charged them and their compatriots across the country to continue raising the operational bar.