67-YEAR-OLD GRANDMOTHER NABBED OVER COCAINE HIDDEN IN FAKE PLANTAIN PEELS
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By: Fasasi Hammad
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-British woman, Mrs Mary Barek, for allegedly attempting to smuggle 13 kilograms of cocaine concealed in fake plantain peels through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the suspect, who works as a caregiver in the United Kingdom, was apprehended at the departure hall of Terminal 2 while preparing to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London on June 28.
Babafemi said a detailed search of her luggage uncovered 31 large parcels of cocaine cleverly packaged to resemble plantain bunches and hidden among food items.
“A thorough search of her bags led to the discovery of 31 large wraps of cocaine disguised as plantain hands, weighing a total of 13 kilograms. The suspect admitted ownership of the drugs during questioning,” he stated.
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The NDLEA also announced the arrest of a 45-year-old doctoral student at the University of Putra Malaysia, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, over an alleged attempt to smuggle cocaine concealed in cartons of Orijin Bitters bound for Kuala Lumpur.
According to the agency, Onyeka was arrested on June 29 in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State after investigations identified him as the alleged leader of a drug trafficking network.
The agency said operatives had earlier intercepted 36 parcels of cocaine weighing 5.8 kilograms hidden within the walls of nine cartons of the herbal alcoholic beverage, which were part of a cargo shipment destined for Malaysia.
Four suspects were initially arrested during the investigation, including cargo agent Alalade Taiwo Azeez, driver Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi, trader Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie, and Igwilo Chidi Henry, who allegedly supplied the cartons used to conceal the drugs.
Babafemi said sustained intelligence efforts eventually led operatives to Onyeka’s hideout in Aziora, Ozubulu, Anambra State, where he was apprehended.
In a separate operation in Taraba State, NDLEA operatives arrested 30-year-old Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke along the Zaki-Biam Road in Wukari Local Government Area on July 4. The agency recovered 43,980 capsules of tramadol concealed inside two specially modified vehicle fuel tanks.
The NDLEA also reported the arrest of Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, during a raid in Gwantu, Kaduna State, where 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine were allegedly recovered.
In Ebonyi State, 65-year-old Francis Ifara Eja was arrested with 231.7 kilograms of skunk in Ikwo on July 4, while 75-year-old Alhaji Babani was apprehended with 15 kilograms of the substance in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State on July 3.
Similarly, operatives in Gombe State arrested Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, on July 1 with 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 556 kilograms at Kuri village in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area.
Beyond enforcement operations, the agency said its commands across the country continued to intensify the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through awareness programmes in schools, workplaces, places of worship and local communities.
Babafemi noted that sensitisation activities were recently conducted in educational institutions and communities across Anambra, Enugu, Ogun and Kano states.
Commending officers involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa, praised the commands for their successes in drug interdiction and public enlightenment, urging them to sustain and improve their efforts nationwide.
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