Nigerian-British Grandma Arrested By NDLEA For Smuggling 13kg Cocaine In Plantain Peels

According to a statement released in Abuja by NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, and obtained by Ireporter Online, the suspect, who reportedly works as a caregiver in the United Kingdom, was apprehended at the departure hall of Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport on Sunday, June 28, 2026, while attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London.

Babafemi disclosed that a detailed search of her luggage led to the discovery of 31 large wraps of cocaine ingeniously packaged to mimic plantain hands, with a total weight of 13 kilogrammes. He added that the suspect, in her statement, admitted ownership of the seized drugs.

In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State arrested a 45-year-old PhD student of the University of Putra, Malaysia, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, following the interception of 5.80 kilograms of cocaine concealed within the walls of nine cartons of Orijin bitters. The consignment, which was part of a consolidated shipment headed to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was intercepted after intelligence-led surveillance.

Further investigations led to the arrest of four additional suspects linked to the syndicate in Lagos, including a cargo agent, a driver, a trader at ASPANDA market in the Trade Fair Complex, and another accomplice allegedly responsible for supplying the cartons used in concealing the illicit substances. Authorities further revealed that the alleged syndicate leader was eventually tracked to his village in Aziora, Ozubulu, Anambra State.

In another operation, NDLEA officers acting on credible intelligence arrested a 30-year-old suspect, Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke, along Zaki-Biam road in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State. He was found in possession of 43,980 capsules of Tramadol concealed inside vehicle fuel tanks while travelling from Onitsha, Anambra State.

The agency also confirmed the arrest of other suspects across Kaduna, Ebonyi, Plateau, and Gombe States. These included individuals found with methamphetamine, cannabis sativa, and large quantities of skunk, in what the agency described as coordinated nationwide operations targeting drug trafficking networks.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers involved in the various operations across the country, noting that their efforts in drug supply reduction were being complemented by sustained nationwide sensitisation campaigns. He urged personnel to maintain the momentum in the fight against drug trafficking across Nigeria.