It was a routine departure day at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos until officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency stepped in on a search that quickly escalated.
A 67-year-old Nigerian-British grandmother, identified as Mary Yetunde Barek, was stopped at the departure hall of Terminal 2 while preparing to board a Virgin Atlantic flight heading to London on June 28, 2026.
According to reports, what started as a standard luggage check soon turned into something more serious when her bags were flagged for closer inspection. Inside, officers reportedly found several carefully wrapped parcels hidden among food items.
The packaging, described by authorities as being shaped and concealed to resemble plantain, contained substances suspected to be cocaine.
In total, the seizure was said to weigh about 13 kilograms.
The NDLEA says the wraps 31 in number were skillfully hidden in a way that blended with other items in the luggage, making them less noticeable at first glance.
During questioning, she allegedly acknowledged ownership of the items, according to the agency.
For now, the case remains under investigation as authorities continue efforts to trace how the substances were packaged and moved into the travel system.
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