NDLEA Arrests 67-year-old Nigerian-British Grandma With 13kg Cocaine In Lagos

By RhemdDy News

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have apprehended a 67-year-old Nigerian-British grandma, Mrs. Mary Yetunde Barek, following discovery of 13 kilograms of cocaine in her luggage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos.

The NDLEA stated that the suspect concealed the illicit drug in peels of plantain which appeared as real plantains and packed among other food items.

A statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, explained that the suspect who works as a caregiver in the United Kingdom was arrested on Sunday June 28 at the Departure Hall of Terminal 2 of the Lagos Airport while attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic airline flight to London. 

"A thorough search of her bags resulted in the discovery of 31 big wraps of cocaine which were packaged to appear like plantain hands, weighing a total of 13 kilograms. 

"In her statement, the elderly woman admitted full ownership of the recovered cocaine exhibits," Babafemi said in the statement.

Meanwhile, a sting operation in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State on Monday June 29, 2026, has resulted in the arrest of a 45-year-old Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, a doctorate student at the University of Putra, Malaysia.

Onyeka was nabbed over 5.80 kilograms of cocaine concealed in walls of nine cartons of Orijin Bitters, a consignment that was part of a consolidated cargo heading to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The arrest of Nwabueze in Anambra State followed the interception of 36 parcels of cocaine, with a gross weight of 5.80 kilograms, concealed within the walls of the herbal drink cartons. 

NDLEA disclosed in the statement that 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," Babafemi said.

In Taraba State, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence on Saturday July 4, arrested a suspect, Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke, 30, with 43,980 capsules of Tramadol concealed inside two vehicle fuel tanks along Zaki-biam road Wukari Local Government Area of the state, while coming from Onitsha, Anambra State.

Also, two suspects including Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, were arrested in possession of 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine by NDLEA officers on Thursday July 2nd during a raid operation at Gwantu, Gwantu LGA Kaduna State.

A 65-year-old suspect, Francis Ifara Eja was nabbed with 231.7kg skunk at Ikwo, Ebonyi State on Saturday July 4. 

Similarly, a 75-year-old grandpa, Alhaji Babani, was arrested in possession of 15kg skunk at Kurgwi, Qua'anpan LGA, Plateau State on Friday July 3, 2026.

In Gombe, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence on Wednesday July 1st arrested the duo of Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, at Kuri Village, Yamaltu- Deba LGA, where they were found with 587 blocks of cannabis sativa, weighing 556 kilograms.