NDLEA Nabs UK-Based Grandma, PhD Student Over Cocaine Smuggling

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-British woman, Mary Yetunde Barek, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, for attempting to smuggle 13 kilograms of suspected cocaine concealed in plantain peels.

The agency said Barek was apprehended at the departure hall of Terminal 2 while trying to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London on June 28, 2026. A search of her luggage revealed 31 large wraps of cocaine carefully packaged to resemble plantain bunches and hidden among food items.

NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday that the suspect, who works as a caregiver in the United Kingdom, admitted ownership of the illicit drugs during interrogation.

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According to the agency, the concealment method was designed to evade detection, as the drug parcels were crafted to appear like real plantains. The recovered substances weighed a total of 13 kilograms.

In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives also arrested a 45-year-old PhD student, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State over alleged involvement in drug trafficking.

Babafemi said Onyeka, a student at the University of Putra, Malaysia, was linked to a consignment of cocaine hidden within cartons of a popular herbal drink, Orijin bitters, destined for Kuala Lumpur.

The agency disclosed that the arrest followed the interception of 36 parcels of cocaine with a combined weight of 5.80 kilograms. The drugs were concealed within the walls of nine cartons, forming part of a consolidated cargo shipment.

Investigations revealed that the illicit consignment was intended for export to Malaysia before it was flagged and traced to the suspect.

The NDLEA said both arrests highlight the evolving tactics used by drug traffickers, including disguising narcotics in everyday consumables to beat security checks.

The agency reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying surveillance at airports, cargo terminals, and across states to disrupt drug trafficking networks.

Babafemi noted that the NDLEA continues to adopt intelligence-led operations and modern detection strategies to combat the illicit drug trade, adding that suspects would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

He urged members of the public to remain vigilant and support ongoing efforts to curb drug trafficking and abuse across the country.