The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has detained a 50-year-old widow and fashion designer over an attempt to traffic 1.3 kilogrammes of cocaine.

A statement by the NDLEA director of media and advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday in Abuja, said the suspect used fake pregnancy as a façade to escape scrutiny and detection.

Mr Babafemi said the widow is a mother of one and proprietress of a popular outlet in Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos.

He said the suspect was arrested at a bus terminal in Jibowu, Yaba area of the state, on August 22 while attempting to move the cocaine consignment to customers in Abuja.

Mr Babafemi said a follow-up operation at her house in the Ago Palace area led to the recovery of 200 grams of cutting agent used in the production of a strain of cocaine.

“In her statement, the suspect claimed she inherited the criminal trade from her husband, who died two years ago, while she has been in the fashion business for 20 years.

“Meanwhile, not less than 90 parcels of Loud, a strain of cannabis weighing 48.6kg, imported from the United States of America, were intercepted by NDLEA operatives at a courier company in Lagos,” Mr Babafemi said.

Mr Babafemi said the drugs were concealed in three cartons of kitchen sink and seized on August 19 by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI).

Similarly, in Adamawa, NDLEA operatives, acting on credible intelligence on August 22, raided the home of a notorious drug dealer.

Mr Babafemi said the suspect had scaled the fence to escape arrest while one of his associates, 55, who attempted the same, was caught in the act in the Rumde Baru area of Yola South.

“Recovered from the premises include a black Toyota Tundra jeep marked FST-885-CZ, driven to Yola by the arrested suspect to supply the fleeing kingpin 354,480 pills of tramadol 225mg and 250 mg.

“Other things recovered were a Toyota Yaris car with registration number DSA 776 AA and some other illicit drugs,“ he said.