NDLEA arrests PhD student, Nigerian-Britsih grandma over alleged cocaine smuggling

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a 45-year-old PhD student for allegedly attempting to export 5.8 kilograms of cocaine concealed in cartons of Orijin Bitters destined for Malaysia.

The agency also arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-British woman at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport after allegedly recovering 13 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside fake plantain peels packed in her luggage.

In a statement, the NDLEA said the PhD student at University of Putra Malaysia, Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, was arrested during a sting operation in Ekwusigo Local Government Area on June 29.

According to the agency, Onyeka allegedly planned to smuggle the illicit drug to Malaysia by concealing it inside cartons of Orijin Bitters. The operation led to the recovery of 5.8 kilograms of cocaine before the shipment could leave the country.

The NDLEA also disclosed that the Nigerian-British suspect was intercepted at the airport while preparing to board a flight to London.

A search of her luggage allegedly uncovered 13 kilograms of cocaine disguised as fake plantain peels and packed alongside food items.

According to the agency, the arrest followed the interception of 36 parcels of cocaine weighing 5.80 kilograms, allegedly concealed within the walls of nine cartons of Orijin Bitters that formed part of a consolidated cargo destined for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The agency said investigations initially led to the arrest of four suspects in Lagos, including 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 drug.

It added that further investigations led operatives to Onyeka’s village in Aziora, Ozubulu, Anambra State, where he was arrested and identified as the alleged leader of the syndicate.

In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives arrested 67-year-old Nigerian-British citizen, Mrs. Mary Yetunde Barek, at the departure hall of Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport while she was preparing to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London.

The agency said a search of her luggage uncovered 31 wraps of cocaine weighing 13 kilograms, packaged to resemble plantain hands and concealed among food items.

According to the NDLEA, the suspect, who works as a caregiver in the United Kingdom, admitted ownership of the recovered drugs during interrogation.

Elsewhere, NDLEA operatives arrested a 30-year-old suspect, Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke, along the Zaki-Biam Road in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State on July 4.

The agency said 43,980 capsules of Tramadol were allegedly recovered from two vehicle fuel tanks during the operation.

In Kaduna State, two suspects, Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, were arrested during a raid in Gwantu Local Government Area, where officers allegedly recovered 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine.

Similarly, in Ebonyi State, a 65-year-old suspect, Francis Ifara Eja, was arrested with 231.7 kilograms of skunk, while a 75-year-old suspect, Alhaji Babani, was apprehended with 15 kilograms of the same substance in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State.

In Gombe State, NDLEA said its operatives arrested Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, at Kuri village in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area, where they allegedly recovered 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 556 kilograms.

The agency also said its commands across the country sustained the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign with sensitisation programmes in schools, workplaces and communities.

Among the institutions visited were Girls Secondary School, Abagana, Anambra State; Government Technical College, Obe, Enugu State; Adeola Odutola College, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State; and the Federal College of Education Staff Demonstration School, Kabuga, Kano State.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers of the MMIA, Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Plateau and Gombe commands for the arrests and seizures, urging them to sustain efforts to reduce drug trafficking while intensifying public enlightenment campaigns against drug abuse.

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