By Seun Ibiyemi
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-British grandmother, Mary Yetunde Barek, after intercepting 13 kilograms of cocaine ingeniously concealed in fake plantain peels at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The suspect, a caregiver based in the United Kingdom, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal 2 of the airport on Sunday, June 28, while attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London.
According to the NDLEA, a thorough search of her luggage led to the discovery of 31 large wraps of cocaine carefully packaged to resemble hands of fresh plantain and hidden among other food items. The illicit drug weighed a total of 13 kilograms.
The agency said Barek admitted ownership of the cocaine during interrogation.
In a related operation, NDLEA operatives dismantled an international drug trafficking syndicate with the arrest of a 45-year-old PhD student of the University of Putra, Malaysia, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, identified as the alleged kingpin of the network.
Onyeka was arrested on Monday, June 29, in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State after investigators traced him to his hometown of Aziora, Ozubulu.
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His arrest followed the interception of 36 parcels of cocaine weighing 5.8 kilograms concealed within the walls of nine cartons of Orijin Bitters that formed part of a consolidated cargo bound for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The agency said investigations initially led to the arrest of four suspects in Lagos, including cargo agent Alalade Taiwo Azeez; driver Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi, who transported the consignment; trader Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie, who handed the shipment to the driver at ASPANDA Market, Trade Fair Complex; and Igwilo Chidi Henry, who allegedly supplied the specially prepared cartons used to conceal the drugs.
Further intelligence later identified Onyeka as the mastermind behind the trafficking operation.
In Taraba State, NDLEA officers on Saturday, July 4, arrested Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke, 30, along the Zaki-Biam-Wukari Road after recovering 43,980 capsules of Tramadol hidden inside two modified vehicle fuel tanks. The suspect was travelling from Onitsha, Anambra State.
In Kaduna State, two suspects, Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, were arrested during a raid in Gwantu Local Government Area on Thursday, July 2, with 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Similarly, NDLEA operatives arrested 65-year-old Francis Ifara Eja with 231.7 kilograms of skunk in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State on Saturday, July 4.
In Plateau State, a 75-year-old suspect, Alhaji Babani, was apprehended on Friday, July 3, in Kurgwi, Qua’an Pan Local Government Area, with 15 kilograms of skunk.
Meanwhile, operatives in Gombe State arrested Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, at Kuri village in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area on Wednesday, July 1, after recovering 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 556 kilograms.
Beyond enforcement operations, the anti-narcotics agency said its commands across the country sustained the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through sensitisation programmes in schools, workplaces, worship centres and communities.
Among the institutions visited during the week were Girls Secondary School, Abagana, Anambra State; Government Technical College, Obe, Enugu State; Adeola Odutola College, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State; and FCE Staff Demonstration School, Kabuga, Kano State.
Commending officers of the MMIA, Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Plateau and Gombe Commands for the successful operations, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised their commitment to balancing drug supply reduction efforts with preventive drug abuse awareness campaigns.
He urged operatives nationwide to sustain the momentum and continue raising the operational standard in the fight against illicit drug trafficking and abuse.
