NDLEA Arrests South Africans for Drug Trafficking in Nigeria

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) disclosed that three South African nationals were arrested for trafficking large quantities of heroin, cocaine, and synthetic cannabis through Nigeria. Francis Okogun, an Assistant Director in the NDLEA’s Media and Advocacy Department, made the announcement during a joint media briefing in Abuja.

He stated that investigations revealed foreign nationals were working with international drug cartels to facilitate the movement of illicit drugs through Nigeria. The agency is investigating the arrests to determine the intended destinations of the drugs and the cartels involved.

One notable case involved Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie, who was arrested at Port Harcourt International Airport in October 2026 for attempting to smuggle 32.74 kilogrammes of synthetic cannabis. Another individual, Will Jessica Ann, was arrested at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on July 6, 2026, with 5.75 kilogrammes of heroin.

The NDLEA emphasized the significance of these arrests due to the large quantities of drugs recovered and their suspected links to international trafficking networks.