Adekoya Mary, a 43-year-old makeup artist, was arrested by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency agents at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, for trying to smuggle 2.20 kilogrammes of cocaine hidden in her suitcase. 

Mary claimed she was going to India for fibroid surgery.  On Monday, June 16, 2025, the arrest took place in response to reliable intelligence.  

Adekoya was placed under surveillance and permitted to check in her bags before being arrested at the boarding gate of her Qatar Airways aircraft to India via Doha, according to a statement issued on Sunday by the agency's spokesperson, Femi Babafemi.

According to Babafemi, when NDLEA investigators inspected her suitcase, they discovered two sizable packages of cocaine factory-fitted inside the walls.  

He claimed that the suspect admitted, under questioning, that he had travelled for financial reasons but had really done so in order to obtain medical care.

“When her luggage was searched, two large parcels of cocaine weighing 2.20kg were found concealed in the walls of the suitcase she was carrying.

“In her statement, she claimed she embarked on the trip for financial benefits but under the pretext of going to India for surgery to remove fibroid from her stomach.

“Further investigation revealed the suspect was recruited and funded by a drug baron currently at large, Akeem Ayinde Adekanbi who owns Rockford Hotel located in Sango area of Ogun state while he lives at Igbe Laara in Igbogbo area of Ikorodu, Lagos state”, the statement added.