….Discovers 43,980 Capsules of Tramadol Concealed In Two Vehicle Fuel Tanks.
By Attah Ede
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have nabbed a 67-year-old Nigerian-British woman, Mary Yetunde Barek, after she was caught with 13 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside fake plantain peels at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The suspect, a caregiver based in the United Kingdom, was apprehended at the departure hall of Terminal 2 while attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London on June 28, 2026.
The Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this in a statement issued and made available to newsmen on Sunday, July 5, 2026, intimated that a detailed search of her luggage led to the recovery of 31 large wraps of cocaine, carefully packaged to resemble hands of plantain, with a combined weight of 13 kilograms.
During interrogation, the suspect admitted ownership of the illicit consignment.
In a related operation, the agency uncovered another cocaine trafficking syndicate after intercepting 5.8 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside the walls of nine cartons of Orijin Bitters bound for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The agency said the seizure led to the arrest of a 45-year-old PhD student at the University of Putra, Malaysia, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, who was identified as the alleged mastermind of the syndicate.
His arrest in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State followed the earlier arrest of four suspects in Lagos, including cargo agent Alalade Taiwo Azeez, driver Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi, trader Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie and Igwilo Chidi Henry, who allegedly supplied the Orijin Bitters cartons used to conceal the cocaine.
The NDLEA said investigations eventually traced Onyeka to his hometown of Aziora, Ozubulu, where he was arrested while hiding and was identified as the leader of the group.
In Taraba State, NDLEA operatives arrested a 30-year-old along the Zaki-Biam Road in the Wukari Local Government Area after discovering 43,980 capsules of tramadol hidden inside two vehicle fuel tanks.
The suspect was intercepted on July 4 while travelling from Onitsha, following actionable intelligence.
In Kaduna State, operatives arrested two suspects during a raid in Gwantu Local Government Area on July 2, recovering 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Another suspect was arrested in Ikwo on July 4 with 231.7 kilograms of skunk, while a 75-year-old was apprehended in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area on July 3 with 15 kilograms of skunk.
In Gombe State, NDLEA officers, acting on intelligence, arrested two suspects at Kuri village in the Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area on July 1.
The duo was found with 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 556 kilograms, according to the agency.
Beyond enforcement operations, the NDLEA said its commands across the country sustained the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign through sensitisation programmes in schools, workplaces, worship centres and communities.
The agency said awareness lectures were held at Girls Secondary School, Abagana in Anambra State, Government Technical College, Obe in Enugu State, Adeola Odutola College, Ijebu Ode in Ogun State, and FCE Staff Demonstration School, Kabuga in Kano State, among other institutions.
Commending officers of the MMIA, Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi and Gombe Commands for the successful operations, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, praised their efforts in reducing drug supply while sustaining public sensitisation campaigns.
Marwa urged officers across the country to maintain the momentum and continue raising the agency’s operational standards in the fight against illicit drug trafficking.
