The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has detained a 67-year-old Nigerian-British grandmother, Mrs. Mary Barek, for reportedly attempting to smuggle 13 kilograms of cocaine concealed in fake plantain peels through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The suspect, who works as a caregiver in the UK, was detained on Sunday, June 28, at the airport's Terminal 2 departure hall while trying to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London, according to the agency.
The NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said in a statement on Sunday that when the suspect's luggage was thoroughly searched, 31 huge wraps of cocaine were found mixed with other food items and disguised as plantain hands.
"A thorough search of her bags resulted in the discovery of 31 large wraps of cocaine, weighing a total of 13 kilograms and packaged to look like plantain hands," Babafemi stated. The elderly woman acknowledged complete ownership of the recovered cocaine exhibits in her statement.
He also announced the arrest of a 45-year-old PhD student at the University of Putra, Malaysia, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, after an attempt to export cocaine concealed inside cartons of Orijin Bitters heading for Kuala Lumpur.
According to Babafemi, Onyeka was detained on June 29 in Anambra State's Ekwusigo Local Government Area after authorities identified him as the purported head of a drug trafficking organization.
He revealed that earlier, as part of a consolidated cargo headed for Malaysia, agents had discovered 36 packages containing 5.80 kg of cocaine concealed inside the walls of nine cartons of the herbal beverage.
He claimed that during investigations, four suspects were first detained in Lagos: Alalade Taiwo Azeez, the cargo agent; Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi, the driver who transported the shipment; Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie, a trader at ASPANDA Market, Trade Fair Complex; and Igwilo Chidi Henry, who allegedly provided the cartons used to hide the drugs.
Babafemi said, “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.” Daniel Harrison-Ugwuoke, 30, was detained by NDLEA agents in Taraba State on Saturday, July 4, near the Zaki-Biam Road in Wukari Local Government Area.
According to the organization, 43,980 Tramadol capsules were found in two car gasoline tanks that had been specifically altered to hide the medications.
Similarly, NDLEA operatives detained Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, during a raid in Gwantu LGA of Kaduna State on July 2, where they allegedly recovered 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine.
In Ebonyi State, a 65-year-old suspect, Francis Ifara Eja, was detained with 231.7 kilos of skunk at Ikwo on July 4, while a 75-year-old suspect, Alhaji Babani, was apprehended with 15 kilograms of skunk at Kurgwi in Qua’anpan Local Government Area of Plateau State on July 3.
Beyond enforcement activities, the NDLEA stated NDLEA Apprehends Nigerian-British Grandmother with 13kg of Cocaine Concealed in Plantain Peels in schools, workplaces, worship centres, and communities.
According to Babafemi, the awareness exercises were undertaken at Girls Secondary School, Abagana, Anambra State; Government Technical College, Obe, Enugu State; Adeola Odutola College, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State; and the FCE Staff Demonstration School, Kabuga, Kano State, among other locations.
Commending officers involved in the recent operations, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), lauded the commands for combining enforcement with public education.
Babafemi quoted Marwa as saying he "commended the officers and men of MMIA, Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Plateau, and Gombe Commands for the arrests and seizures," noting that "their drug supply reduction efforts balanced with WADA sensitisation activities," while charging them and other officers across the country to continue to raise the operational bar.