The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has raised concerns over the growing involvement of South African nationals in international drug trafficking operations using Nigeria as a transit route for the movement of illicit substances to other parts of the world.

The agency disclosed that three South African nationals have so far been arrested in separate operations involving substantial quantities of heroin, cocaine and synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Loud.

Francis Okogun, an Assistant Director in the NDLEA’s Media and Advocacy Department, revealed this during a joint briefing involving defence, security and intelligence agencies organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser.

According to the agency, preliminary findings suggest that some foreign nationals are increasingly being recruited by international drug cartels to facilitate the transportation of prohibited substances through Nigeria, while others are involved in smuggling drugs directly into the country.

One of the recent cases involved a South African woman, Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie, who was arrested in October 2026 at the Port Harcourt International Airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle 32.74 kilogrammes of synthetic cannabis, known as Thai Loud, concealed inside her luggage.

Another major arrest occurred on July 6, 2026, when NDLEA operatives apprehended 38-year-old South African national, Will Jessica Ann, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

The suspect was allegedly found with 14 large blocks of heroin weighing 5.75 kilogrammes, which she had concealed in her luggage. The agency further alleged that she used her three-year-old son as a cover to avoid attracting suspicion and evade thorough security screening.

She was arrested during the inward clearance of passengers arriving aboard Qatar Airways flight QR 1433 from Doha.

According to the NDLEA, the woman initially denied travelling with checked-in luggage. However, operatives reportedly discovered that the tags on two bags containing the drugs corresponded with the baggage claim tags attached to her passport.

Advertisement

Faced with the evidence, she reportedly admitted ownership of the bags, claiming she had forgotten that she checked them in.

Speaking on the arrests, Okogun said the agency was investigating the suspects' possible connections with international drug trafficking networks, stressing that the individuals might be operating on behalf of powerful criminal organisations.

He explained that the development had attracted attention because of the potential damage it could cause to Nigeria’s international reputation, particularly if the country becomes increasingly associated with the activities of foreign drug trafficking networks.

“Our findings indicate that some foreign nationals are increasingly becoming involved in facilitating the movement of illicit drugs through Nigeria to other parts of the world. Some are also involved in bringing such substances into the country,” he said.

Okogun confirmed that three individuals had been arrested within the period under review, noting that the substantial quantities of drugs recovered, including heroin, cocaine and synthetic cannabis, made the cases particularly significant.

He added that identifying the individuals behind the shipments remained a major challenge because drug traffickers rarely disclose information about their sponsors, criminal networks or the intended destinations of their consignments.

The NDLEA spokesman said investigations were ongoing to establish where the drugs were ultimately headed and uncover the international cartels allegedly responsible for the operations.

The agency's disclosure highlights growing concerns over the use of Nigerian airports and other transportation channels by international drug trafficking networks, as security operatives intensify efforts to dismantle cross-border criminal operations.