LAGOS, NIGERIA: T he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted multiple cross-border drug trafficking attempts and arrested several suspects, including a 67-year-old British-Nigerian grandmother and a PhD student, in a nationwide crackdown on illicit substances.

Major Airport Interceptions

At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested Mary Barek, a UK-based caregiver, at the Terminal 2 departure hall. Barek was attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London when a search of her luggage uncovered 13 kilograms of cocaine. The illicit substance was divided into 31 large wraps and disguised as fake plantain hands packed alongside authentic food items. Officials confirmed that the suspect admitted ownership of the seized contraband.

In a separate international trafficking case, the agency dismantled a syndicate attempting to export cocaine to Malaysia. Investigators traced the operation to Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, a 45-year-old PhD student at the University of Putra, Malaysia, who was arrested in the Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The arrest followed the interception of 5.80 kilograms of cocaine divided into 36 parcels and hidden within the walls of nine cartons of a herbal drink. Four other individuals—including a cargo agent, a driver, a market trader, and the supplier of the concealment cartons—were previously detained in Lagos during the investigation, which eventually led authorities to Onyeka's location in Ozubulu, Anambra State.

Regional Seizures and Arrests

The NDLEA also reported significant operations across several states:

• Taraba State: Operatives arrested 30-year-old Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke along the Zaki-Biam Road in Wukari. Authorities recovered 43,980 capsules of Tramadol hidden inside two specially modified vehicle fuel tanks.

• Kaduna State: A raid in the Gwantu Local Government Area resulted in the arrest of Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, alongside the recovery of 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine.

• Ebonyi and Plateau States: Elderly suspects were apprehended with large quantities of skunk. Francis Ifara Eja, 65, was detained with 231.7 kilograms in Ebonyi, while Alhaji Babani, 75, was caught with 15 kilograms in Plateau State.

• Gombe State: Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, were intercepted at Kuri village with 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing a combined 556 kilograms.

Public Enlightenment Campaigns

Alongside tactical enforcement, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative. The agency conducted educational and sensitization programs at various academic institutions nationwide, including Girls Secondary School in Anambra, Government Technical College in Enugu, Adeola Odutola College in Ogun, and the FCE Staff Demonstration School in Kano.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, retired Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended the various state and airport commands for their successful operations. He emphasized the importance of balancing strict drug supply reduction with public enlightenment campaigns, urging officers to maintain high operational standards across the country.