NDLEA Intercepts Significant Cocaine Shipment Bound for Malaysia
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has successfully thwarted a substantial drug shipment destined for Malaysia. The operation uncovered 13 kilograms of cocaine concealed within a plantain peel, leading to the arrest of 67-year-old Mary Yetunde Barek, a Nigerian-British national. The contraband was packed within her luggage alongside other food items at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos.
Elderly Suspect Detained Before Flight Departure
Barek, who works as a carer in the UK, was apprehended in the departure hall of Terminal 2 on June 28, 2026, as she prepared to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London. A meticulous search of her belongings revealed 31 sizable packages of cocaine disguised to resemble psyllium husks. Following her arrest, the NDLEA confirmed that she fully acknowledged ownership of the seized narcotics.
Further Drug Seizure in Anambra State
The agency reported another significant operation the following day. On June 29, 2026, officials in Ekwisigo Local Government Area of Anambra State confiscated 5.80 kilograms of cocaine hidden within the walls of a box containing nine cartons of Origin Bitters. The suspect, 45-year-old Felix Onyeka Nwabueze, a PhD student at the University of Putra in Malaysia, was implicated in a larger scheme aimed at shipping these drugs to Kuala Lumpur.
Syndicate Investigation Leads to Multiple Arrests
The NDLEA’s investigation led to the identification of four additional suspects initially apprehended in Lagos. These included a driver, Ndem Kelechi, and trade accomplice Okeke Chimezie, who had passed the shipment to a freight agent. Igwiro Henry, another accomplice, provided the cartons used to conceal the cocaine. Eventually, the agency ascertained that Nwabueze was the mastermind behind the operation, who was located in Ajiola village in Ozuburu, Anambra State.
Seizure of Tramadol and Methamphetamine
In separate incidents, NDLEA operatives arrested a 30-year-old man, Daniel Harrison Ugwoke, on July 4, while he was transporting 43,980 Tramadol capsules hidden in vehicle fuel tanks in Wukari Local Government Area. Additionally, on July 2, officials apprehended two suspects, Boniface Agu and Monday Nwaeze, who were found with 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine during a raid in Gwantu, Kaduna State.
Multiple Drug Traffickers Arrested Nationwide
Additionally, 65-year-old Francis Ejah was arrested in Ikwo, Ebonyi State, on July 4, while in possession of 231.7 kilograms of skunk. A 75-year-old man, Alhaji Babani, was also detained for possessing 15 kilograms of skunk on July 3 in Kurugwi, Plateau State. In Gombe, authorities apprehended Dahir Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, on July 1, with a haul of 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 556 kilograms.
Ongoing Campaign Against Drug Abuse in Nigeria
In its effort to combat the pervasive drug issue, the NDLEA continues its War on Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, promoting awareness in schools, places of worship, workplaces, and community centers throughout Nigeria. This campaign aims to educate citizens about the dangers of drug misuse and bolster community support against drug trafficking.
