NDLEA Arrests Nigerian-British Woman with 13kg Cocaine

On June 28, 2023, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested 67-year-old Nigerian-British citizen Mr. Mari Berek at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

She was attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London with 13 kilograms of cocaine concealed in fake plantain peels. NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, reported that a thorough search of her luggage revealed 31 large wraps of cocaine disguised as plantain packs alongside food items.

Berek admitted full ownership of the recovered cocaine. Additionally, on June 29, the NDLEA arrested 45-year-old Nwabuez Felix Onyeka, a PhD student at Universiti Putra Malaysia, for attempting to export cocaine hidden inside a carton of Orijin bitter bound for Kuala Lumpur.

The agency's operations led to multiple arrests and seizures across various states, including Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi, and Plateau, as part of their ongoing efforts against drug trafficking.