The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-British grandmother, Mary Barek, for allegedly attempting to smuggle 13 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside fake plantain through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.
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According to the agency, Barek, who works as a caregiver in the United Kingdom, was apprehended at the departure hall of Terminal 2 on June 28 while preparing to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London.
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The NDLEA said officers who searched her luggage discovered 31 large wraps of cocaine carefully packaged to resemble hands of plantain. The recovered drugs weighed a total of 13 kilograms.
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The agency stated that the suspect admitted ownership of the cocaine during interrogation.
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives arrested Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, a 45-year-old PhD student at the University of Putra, Malaysia, over an alleged attempt to export cocaine hidden inside cartons of Orijin Bitters destined for Kuala Lumpur.
The agency said Onyeka was arrested in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State on June 29 after investigators identified him as the alleged leader of a drug trafficking syndicate.
Investigators had earlier intercepted 36 parcels of cocaine weighing 5.80 kilograms concealed within the walls of nine cartons of the herbal drink that formed part of a cargo shipment bound for Malaysia.
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The investigation initially led to the arrest of four suspects in Lagos. They include cargo agent Alalade Taiwo Azeez, driver Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi, trader Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie from ASPANDA Market at the Trade Fair Complex, and Igwilo Chidi Henry, who allegedly supplied the cartons used to conceal the drugs.
The NDLEA said further investigations led operatives to Onyeka, who was eventually tracked down and arrested in his hometown of Aziora, Ozubulu, in Anambra State.
In Taraba State, NDLEA officers arrested 30-year-old Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke along Zaki-Biam Road in Wukari Local Government Area on July 4. The agency recovered 43,980 capsules of tramadol hidden inside specially modified fuel tanks of two vehicles.
In Kaduna State, operatives arrested Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, during a raid in Gwantu Local Government Area on July 2. They were allegedly found with 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine.
In Ebonyi State, Francis Ifara Eja, aged 65, was arrested in Ikwo on July 4 after officers allegedly recovered 231.7 kilograms of skunk from him.
The agency also arrested a 75-year-old suspect, Alhaji Babani, in Kurgwi, Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State, on July 3. He was allegedly found with 15 kilograms of skunk.
In Gombe State, NDLEA operatives arrested Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, on July 1 at Kuri village in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area. The agency said the suspects were caught with 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 556 kilograms.
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