NDLEA Uncovers Major Drug Trafficking Network as 67-Year-Old Grandmother, PhD Student Among Suspects

 Nigeria's National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced a series of major drug seizures and arrests across the country, including the interception of a 67-year-old Nigerian-British woman allegedly attempting to smuggle cocaine through Lagos airport and the arrest of a PhD student accused of leading an international drug trafficking network.

The grandmother's arrest, in detail

Barek, who works as a caregiver in the United Kingdom, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal 2 while attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London on June 28. A thorough search of her luggage uncovered 31 large wraps of cocaine, carefully packaged to closely resemble real hands of plantain and hidden among other food items — a total of 13 kilograms. According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, Barek admitted full ownership of the drugs during interrogation.

A much bigger network unravels

In a separate but related case revealed the same weekend, NDLEA operatives arrested Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, a 45-year-old PhD student at the University of Putra Malaysia, after intercepting 5.8 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside the walls of nine cartons of Orijin Bitters bound for Kuala Lumpur. Investigators worked backward from the shipment, arresting a cargo agent, a driver, a market trader, and a supplier who provided the cartons used for concealment — before ultimately tracking Onyeka down hiding in his home village of Aziora, Ozubulu, in Anambra State, where he was identified as the alleged leader of the entire trafficking syndicate.

Part of a much wider sweep

The same NDLEA statement detailed a string of other arrests and seizures across the country in the days surrounding Barek's case: 43,980 capsules of tramadol found in a vehicle's fuel tanks in Taraba State, 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine recovered in a Kaduna State raid, 231.7 kilograms of skunk seized in Ebonyi State, 15 kilograms of skunk in Plateau State, and 556 kilograms of cannabis discovered in Gombe State — a snapshot of just how much trafficking activity Nigerian security agencies are contending with in any given week.

Why this matters beyond one arrest

Barek's case fits a documented pattern flagged by drug enforcement officials: traffickers increasingly recruiting older individuals and people who don't fit the "typical suspect" profile, precisely because they're statistically less likely to be searched thoroughly. NDLEA Chairman Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.) commended the officers involved across multiple states and stressed that enforcement efforts continue to run alongside the agency's War Against Drug Abuse sensitization campaigns in schools, workplaces, and communities nationwide.

What Happens Next?

NDLEA says investigations are continuing to determine the full extent of the suspected trafficking network and identify any additional individuals involved. The agency has also reiterated its commitment to strengthening airport security, cargo inspections, and nationwide anti-drug awareness campaigns as part of its ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking across Nigeria.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was arrested in the NDLEA operation?

The operation included the arrest of a 67-year-old Nigerian-British woman, a PhD student, and several other suspected members of an alleged drug trafficking network.

What drugs were recovered?

NDLEA reported seizures including cocaine, tramadol, methamphetamine, and cannabis in different operations.

Why are older people sometimes used by traffickers?

According to NDLEA, criminal groups may recruit people who do not fit the typical suspect profile in an attempt to avoid detection during security checks.