The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested several suspected drug traffickers, including a 67-year-old Nigerian-British grandmother and a PhD student, during coordinated operations across different parts of the country.
The agency also intercepted 43,980 capsules of tramadol concealed inside two vehicle fuel tanks, describing the arrests as part of ongoing intelligence-driven efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks.
One of the major arrests involved Mary Yetunde Barek, a 67-year-old caregiver based in the United Kingdom, who was apprehended at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos while preparing to board a flight to London. A search of her luggage reportedly uncovered 13 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside packages disguised as fresh plantain peels and mixed with food items. The NDLEA said she admitted ownership of the drugs during questioning.
In another operation, officers intercepted 5.8 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside the walls of cartons of Orijin Bitters that were being prepared for shipment to Malaysia. Investigators later arrested Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, a 45-year-old PhD student studying in Malaysia, in Anambra State. The agency alleged that he headed the trafficking syndicate after four other suspects linked to the shipment were earlier arrested in Lagos.
The NDLEA also recorded multiple drug seizures across the country. In Kaduna State, two suspects were arrested with 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine, while another suspect was apprehended in Ebonyi State with 231.7 kilograms of skunk. In Plateau State, officers recovered 15 kilograms of skunk from a 75-year-old suspect, and in Gombe State, two men were arrested with 556 kilograms of cannabis sativa.
Meanwhile, operatives in Taraba State intercepted 43,980 capsules of tramadol concealed inside two fuel tanks of a vehicle travelling from Onitsha, Anambra State.
The NDLEA said the operations highlight the increasingly sophisticated methods used by drug trafficking syndicates, including hiding narcotics inside food items, beverage cartons, and vehicle components. The agency added that investigations into all the cases are ongoing
