A 67-year-old Nigerian-British woman, Mrs. Mary Yetunde Barek, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) after officers allegedly discovered 13 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside fake plantain peels packed among food items in her luggage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
According to a statement issued by the anti-narcotics agency, the suspect, who works as a caregiver in the United Kingdom, was apprehended at the departure hall of Terminal 2 while attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London on Sunday, June 28, 2026.
The NDLEA said a detailed search of her luggage led to the recovery of 31 large wraps of cocaine packaged to resemble bunches of plantains.
“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,” the agency said.In a related development, the NDLEA said it arrested a 45-year-old PhD student of the University of Putra, Malaysia, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, over an alleged attempt to smuggle 5.8 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside the walls of nine cartons of Orijin Bitters destined for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The agency said the suspect was apprehended during a sting operation in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State on Monday, June 29, 2026.
According to the NDLEA, the arrest followed the interception of 36 parcels of cocaine weighing 5.8 kilograms, which had been hidden within specially modified cartons of the herbal alcoholic beverage.
Investigators initially arrested four suspects in Lagos during efforts to uncover those behind the shipment. They were identified as cargo agent Alalade Taiwo Azeez; driver Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi, who transported the consignment; trader Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie, who allegedly handed the shipment to the driver; and Igwilo Chidi Henry, who allegedly supplied the modified cartons used to conceal the drugs.
The agency said intelligence gathered from the investigation eventually led operatives to Onyeka, who was arrested while hiding in his hometown of Aziora, Ozubulu, in Anambra State.
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