The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 67-year-old British-Nigerian grandmother, a Nigerian PhD student studying in Malaysia and several other suspects in a series of anti-drug operations.

The operations led to the seizure of cocaine, tramadol, methamphetamine and cannabis.

The agency disclosed this in a statement on Sunday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, saying the operations underscored the agency's sustained crackdown on drug trafficking networks.

According to the statement, Mrs. Mary Barek, a 67-year-old Nigerian-British citizen and caregiver based in the United Kingdom, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, while attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London.

Babafemi said a thorough search of her luggage led to the discovery of 31 large wraps of cocaine weighing 13 kilograms, ingeniously packaged to resemble hands of plantain and concealed among food items.

He said the suspect admitted ownership of the illicit drug during interrogation.

In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives arrested Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, a 45-year-old PhD student at the University of Putra, Malaysia, over an alleged attempt to export cocaine concealed inside cartons of Orijin Bitters destined for Kuala Lumpur.

Babafemi said investigations began after operatives intercepted 36 parcels of cocaine weighing 5.8 kilograms, hidden within the walls of nine cartons of the herbal alcoholic drink forming part of a consolidated cargo bound for Malaysia.

The agency said four suspects were initially arrested in Lagos, including cargo agent Alalade Taiwo Azeez, driver Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi, ASPANDA Market trader Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie, and Igwilo Chidi Henry, who allegedly supplied the specially prepared cartons used to conceal the drugs.

Further investigations, according to the NDLEA, led operatives to Onyeka, who was arrested on June 29 at his village, Aziora, Ozubulu, in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State.

"The efforts eventually paid off, leading to the unmasking of Nwabueze hiding in his village Aziora, Ozubulu, Anambra State as the leader of the syndicate," Babafemi said.

In Taraba State, operatives arrested Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke, 30, along the Zaki-Biam Road in Wukari Local Government Area on July 4 after recovering 43,980 capsules of tramadol concealed inside two specially modified vehicle fuel tanks.

The agency also reported the arrest of Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, during a raid in Gwantu Local Government Area of Kaduna State on July 2, where 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine were allegedly recovered.

In Ebonyi State, Francis Ifara Eja, 65, was arrested at Ikwo with 231.7 kilograms of skunk, while Alhaji Babani, 75, was apprehended with 15 kilograms of skunk at Kurgwi in Qua'an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State on July 3.

Similarly, in Gombe State, NDLEA operatives arrested Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, at Kuri village in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area on July 1 with 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 556 kilograms.

Beyond enforcement operations, the agency said its commands nationwide continued the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through sensitisation programmes conducted in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.

According to Babafemi, awareness programmes were held at Girls Secondary School, Abagana in Anambra State, Government Technical College, Obe in Enugu State, Adeola Odutola College, Ijebu Ode in Ogun State, FCE Staff Demonstration School, Kabuga in Kano State, among other locations.

Commending officers involved in the operations, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), praised the commands for combining effective drug supply reduction with public enlightenment efforts.

According to Babafemi, Marwa commended officers of the MMIA, Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Plateau and Gombe commands for the arrests and seizures, while urging them and other personnel across the country to sustain the momentum and continue raising the agency's operational standards.