Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-British woman after discovering 13 kilograms of cocaine cleverly concealed inside fake plantain peels packed among food items in her luggage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The suspect, described by the agency as a caregiver based in the United Kingdom, was intercepted on June 28, 2026, at the departure hall of Terminal 2 while preparing to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London.
According to the NDLEA, a thorough search of her luggage uncovered 31 large wraps of cocaine disguised as hands of plantain, with a total weight of 13 kilograms. The agency said the suspect admitted ownership of the illicit drugs during interrogation.
In a separate operation, the anti-narcotics agency dismantled a drug trafficking syndicate linked to a cocaine shipment destined for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, arresting a 45-year-old PhD student of the University of Putra Malaysia in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The arrest followed the seizure of 36 parcels of cocaine weighing 5.8 kilograms, concealed inside the walls of nine cartons of Orijin Bitters prepared for export. Investigators had earlier arrested four suspects in Lagos, including a cargo agent, a driver, a trader and Igwilo Chidi Henry, who was accused of supplying the modified cartons used to hide the drugs.
The NDLEA said intelligence gathered during the investigation led operatives to Onyeka, who was arrested while hiding in Aziora, Ozubulu, Anambra State. He is believed to be the alleged leader of the trafficking network.
The agency also recorded major seizures in other parts of the country. In Taraba State, officers arrested a 30-year-old suspect along the Zaki-Biam Road in Wukari Local Government Area after discovering 43,980 capsules of tramadol hidden inside two vehicle fuel tanks.
In Kaduna State, two suspects were arrested during a raid in Gwantu Local Government Area, where operatives recovered 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine. In Ebonyi State, another suspect was arrested in Ikwo with 231.7 kilograms of skunk, while a 75-year-old man was apprehended in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State with 15 kilograms of skunk.
Meanwhile, in Gombe State, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence arrested two suspects in Kuri village, Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area, recovering 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 556 kilograms.
Beyond enforcement, the agency said it continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through awareness programmes in schools, workplaces, religious centres and communities nationwide. Sensitisation activities were recently held in schools across Anambra, Enugu, Ogun and Kano states.
Commending officers involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), praised the MMIA, Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi and Gombe Commands for their efforts in disrupting drug trafficking networks while sustaining public awareness campaigns against drug abuse.
