The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 45-year-old Nigerian PhD student over an alleged attempt to smuggle 5.8 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside cartons of Orijin Bitters intended for export to Malaysia.
The agency also apprehended a 67-year-old Nigerian-British woman at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, after officers allegedly discovered 13 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside fake plantain peels packed in her luggage.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the NDLEA disclosed that the PhD student at the University of Putra, Malaysia, identified as Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, was arrested during a targeted operation in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State on June 29.
According to the agency, the operation followed the interception of 36 parcels of cocaine weighing 5.80 kilograms, allegedly concealed within the inner walls of nine cartons of Orijin Bitters forming part of a consolidated shipment destined for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The NDLEA explained that preliminary investigations first led to the arrest of four suspects in Lagos.
The suspects were identified as cargo agent Alalade Taiwo Azeez, driver Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi, trader Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie and Igwilo Chidi Henry, who allegedly supplied the cartons used to conceal the illicit substance.
The agency said further investigations eventually traced the operation to Onyeka’s hometown of Aziora in Ozubulu, Anambra State, where he was arrested.
According to the NDLEA, Onyeka is believed to be the alleged mastermind of the trafficking syndicate.
In another operation, NDLEA operatives arrested 67-year-old Nigerian-British citizen, Mrs. Mary Yetunde Barek, at the departure terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport while she was preparing to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London.
The agency said a detailed search of her luggage uncovered 31 wraps of cocaine weighing 13 kilograms, packaged to resemble bunches of plantain and concealed among food items.
During interrogation, the suspect, who reportedly works as a caregiver in the United Kingdom, allegedly admitted ownership of the recovered narcotics.
Elsewhere, NDLEA officers arrested 30-year-old Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke along the Zaki-Biam Road in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State on July 4.
According to the agency, operatives recovered 43,980 capsules of Tramadol concealed inside two modified fuel tanks of a vehicle.
In Kaduna State, two suspects identified as Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, were arrested during a raid carried out in Gwantu Local Government Area.
The NDLEA said officers recovered 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine during the operation.
In Ebonyi State, operatives arrested 65-year-old Francis Ifara Eja after allegedly recovering 231.7 kilograms of skunk in his possession.
Similarly, in Plateau State, a 75-year-old suspect identified as Alhaji Babani was apprehended with 15 kilograms of the same substance in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area.
The agency also reported another major seizure in Gombe State, where operatives arrested Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, at Kuri village in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area.
According to the NDLEA, officers recovered 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing approximately 556 kilograms during the operation.
Beyond enforcement activities, the agency disclosed that its commands across the country continued implementing the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through sensitisation programmes targeting schools, workplaces and local communities.
Educational institutions visited during the campaign included Girls Secondary School in Abagana, Anambra State; Government Technical College in Obe, Enugu State; Adeola Odutola College in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State; and the Federal College of Education Staff Demonstration School in Kabuga, Kano State.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers attached to the MMIA, Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Plateau and Gombe commands for the successful operations.
He urged personnel nationwide to sustain the fight against illicit drug trafficking while intensifying public awareness campaigns aimed at discouraging drug abuse.
