NDLEA Nabs Nigerian-British Grandma with 13kg Cocaine Hidden in Plantain Peels

• A 67-year-old Nigerian-British woman was arrested at Lagos airport after NDLEA operatives allegedly uncovered 13 kilograms of cocaine expertly disguised as plantain peels inside her luggage.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-British grandmother, Mrs. Mary Yetunde Barek, after allegedly discovering 13 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside 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 NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, a thorough search of her luggage led to the discovery of 31 large wraps of suspected cocaine carefully moulded to resemble fresh plantains, weighing a total of 13 kilogrammes.

“In her statement, the elderly woman admitted full ownership of the recovered cocaine exhibits,” the statement said.

In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives arrested 45-year-old PhD student Nwabueze Felix Onyeka in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State over an attempt to smuggle 5.80 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed inside the walls of nine cartons of Orijin Bitters destined for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Investigations into the shipment had earlier led to the arrest of four suspects in Lagos, including a cargo agent, a driver, a trader and another accomplice who allegedly supplied the specially prepared cartons used to conceal the drugs.

“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,” the statement said.

Elsewhere in Taraba State, NDLEA operatives arrested Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke, 30, after recovering 43,980 capsules of tramadol hidden inside two modified vehicle fuel tanks transported from Onitsha, Anambra State.

Other operations across the country also led to multiple arrests and significant drug seizures. In Kaduna State, two suspects were found with 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine, while a 65-year-old suspect was arrested in Ebonyi State with 231.7 kilograms of skunk.

In Plateau State, a 75-year-old man was apprehended with 15 kilograms of skunk, while NDLEA operatives in Gombe State recovered 556 kilograms of cannabis sativa after arresting two suspects during an intelligence-led raid.

“With the same level of dedication, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week,” the statement noted.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers involved in the nationwide operations and urged commands across Nigeria to sustain the momentum in combating drug trafficking while intensifying public sensitisation efforts.