UK-Based Grandma Arrested with 13kg Cocaine at Lagos Airport

On June 28, 2026, Mari Yetunde Barek, a 67-year-old Nigerian-British grandmother, was arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. The agency discovered 13 kilograms of cocaine concealed within fake plantain peels in her luggage as she attempted to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London.

Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, confirmed that a thorough search revealed 31 large wraps of cocaine carefully molded to resemble fresh plantains. During interrogation, Barek admitted ownership of the illicit drugs.

This operation was part of a broader effort by the NDLEA to dismantle a drug trafficking syndicate, which led to the arrest of Nwabuez Felix Onyeka, a 45-year-old PhD student at Universiti Putra Malaysia, identified as the alleged leader of the network. The NDLEA's operations also resulted in multiple arrests across various states, including Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi, and Plateau, with significant drug recoveries.