NDLEA Seizes 18.83kg Cocaine Hidden in Bitters and Fake Plantains, Arrests 3 Suspects

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested three suspects, including a 45-year-old PhD student, over allegations of attempting to export cocaine hidden in Orijin Bitters cartons and fake plantains to Malaysia.

The arrest of Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, a PhD student at the University of Putra, Malaysia, follows 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.

According to the NDLEA, four suspects were initially arrested 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.

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.

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.

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 NDLEA also launched sensitisation programmes in schools, workplaces and communities as part of the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.

New Arrests and Seizures

The agency reported making a total of 13 arrests in the past week, with the seizure of cocaine and other illicit substances weighing over 18.83 kilograms.

The NDLEA's efforts to combat drug trafficking and abuse have been ongoing, with the agency launching sensitisation programmes in schools, workplaces and communities.

The agency has also arrested several suspects in recent weeks, including a 45-year-old PhD student, who allegedly attempted to export cocaine hidden in Orijin Bitters cartons and fake plantains to Malaysia.

The NDLEA has urged the public to report any suspicious activity to the agency, and has called on officers to sustain efforts to reduce drug trafficking while intensifying public enlightenment campaigns against drug abuse.

The NDLEA's chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), has commended officers of the MMIA, Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Plateau and Gombe commands for the arrests and seizures.

The NDLEA's efforts to combat drug trafficking and abuse have been ongoing, with the agency launching sensitisation programmes in schools, workplaces and communities.

The agency has also arrested several suspects in recent weeks, including a 45-year-old PhD student, who allegedly attempted to export cocaine hidden in Orijin Bitters cartons and fake plantains to Malaysia.

The NDLEA has urged the public to report any suspicious activity to the agency, and has called on officers to sustain efforts to reduce drug trafficking while intensifying public enlightenment campaigns against drug abuse.