A 67-year-old Nigerian-British grandmother has been arrested by Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for allegedly attempting to smuggle 13 kilograms of cocaine concealed in fake plantain peels through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The suspect, identified as Mary Barek, a caregiver based in the United Kingdom, was arrested on June 28 at the departure hall of Terminal 2 while preparing to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London.
According to a statement issued by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, officers became suspicious of the suspect’s luggage and conducted a thorough search, leading to the discovery of 31 large packages of cocaine carefully disguised to resemble hands of plantain.
The illicit drugs, which weighed a total of 13 kilograms, had been packed alongside other food items in an apparent attempt to evade airport security checks.
“A thorough search of her bags resulted in the discovery of 31 big wraps of cocaine, which were packaged to appear like hands of plantain, weighing a total of 13 kilograms,” Babafemi said.
The NDLEA said the suspect admitted ownership of the cocaine during interrogation.
“In her statement, the elderly woman admitted full ownership of the recovered cocaine exhibits,” the agency stated.
The arrest formed part of a broader anti-narcotics operation carried out across Nigeria, during which the NDLEA also dismantled an alleged international drug trafficking syndicate linked to a cocaine shipment destined for Malaysia.
Authorities arrested Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, a 45-year-old PhD student at the University of Putra Malaysia, after tracing him to his hometown in Anambra State.
Investigators identified him as the alleged leader of a network accused of concealing cocaine inside cartons of Orijin Bitters intended for export to Kuala Lumpur.
The agency disclosed that operatives had earlier intercepted 36 parcels of cocaine weighing 5.8 kilograms hidden within the walls of nine cartons of the herbal drink.
Four suspects, including a cargo agent, a driver and two alleged accomplices, were arrested before investigators tracked down Onyeka.
The NDLEA also announced several other drug-related arrests across the country. In Taraba State, officers recovered 43,980 capsules of Tramadol concealed in specially modified fuel tanks of a vehicle.
Additional operations in Kaduna, Ebonyi, Plateau and Gombe states led to the seizure of methamphetamine and more than 556 kilograms of cannabis, among other illicit substances.
Beyond enforcement operations, the agency said it continues to intensify its nationwide War Against Drug Abuse campaign through education and awareness programmes in schools, workplaces, places of worship and local communities.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the recent operations, urging commands across the country to sustain the fight against drug trafficking and abuse through both enforcement and public education.
Source: Punch Nigeria.