Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-British grandmother, Mrs Mary Yetunde Barek, after discovering 13 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in plantain peels designed to resemble real plantains and packed alongside other food items in her luggage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

The suspect, who works as a caregiver in the United Kingdom, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal 2 while attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London on Sunday, June 28, 2026.

A thorough search of her luggage led to the recovery of 31 large wraps of cocaine packaged to resemble bunches of plantain, weighing a total of 13 kilogrammes.

In her statement, the elderly woman admitted ownership of the cocaine.

Meanwhile, a sting operation in Ekwusigo Local Council of Anambra State on Monday, June 29, 2026, led to the arrest of 45-year-old Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, a PhD student at the University of Putra, Malaysia, following the seizure of 5.8 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed within the walls of nine cartons of Orijin Bitters.

The consignment was part of a consolidated cargo destined for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Earlier investigations had resulted in the arrest of four suspects in Lagos: cargo agent Alalade Taiwo Azeez; driver Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi, who transported the consignment; trader Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie of Aspanda Market, Trade Fair Complex, who handed the cargo to the driver; and Igwilo Chidi Henry, who allegedly supplied the Orijin Bitters cartons used to conceal the drugs.

The investigation eventually led to Onyeka, who was traced to his village, Aziora, Ozubulu, Anambra State, where he was arrested as the alleged leader of the syndicate.

In Taraba State, NDLEA operatives, acting on credible intelligence, arrested Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke, 30, on Saturday, July 4, along Zaki-Biam Road in Wukari Local Council.

He was found with 43,980 capsules of tramadol concealed inside the fuel tanks of two vehicles travelling from Onitsha, Anambra State.

Similarly, Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, were arrested with 1.7 kilogrammes of methamphetamine during a raid in Gwantu, Sanga Local Council of Kaduna State, on Thursday, July 2.

In Ebonyi State, a 65-year-old suspect, Francis Ifara Eja, was arrested with 231.7 kilogrammes of skunk at Ikwo on Saturday, July 4, while a 75-year-old suspect, Alhaji Babani, was apprehended with 15 kilogrammes of skunk at Kurgwi in Qua’an Pan Local Council of Plateau State on Friday, July 3.

Also in Gombe State, NDLEA operatives arrested Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, at Kuri village in Yamaltu/Deba Local Council on Wednesday, July 1. The suspects were found with 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 556 kilogrammes.