South African nationals are increasingly leading international drug trafficking networks operating in Nigeria, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has warned.
The agency said three South Africans had been arrested in separate operations involving large quantities of heroin, cocaine and synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Loud.
The Assistant Director, Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA, Francis Okogun, disclosed this on Thursday during a joint security briefing at the Office of the National Security Adviser in Abuja .
Okogun, who represented the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said investigations indicated that some foreign nationals were increasingly facilitating the movement of illicit drugs through Nigeria to other parts of the world.
“On the arrest of South African nationals in connection with drug trafficking, it is important to clarify that the issue has attracted attention because of the negative impression it could create about Nigeria internationally,” he said .
“For the period under review, three individuals were arrested. What makes these arrests particularly significant is the large quantities of drugs recovered, including heroin, cocaine and synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Loud.”
Suspects Worked for International Cartels
According to Okogun, preliminary findings suggested the suspects were working on behalf of international drug cartels.
He said investigations were ongoing to establish the identities of the sponsors, the final destinations of the drugs and the wider networks behind the operations.
“As you know, drug traffickers rarely volunteer information about their sponsors or the final destinations of their consignments,” he said.
“We are therefore conducting painstaking investigations to establish the actual destinations of the drugs and identify the cartels responsible for the shipments.”
Recent Arrests at Airports
In October 2026, NDLEA operatives arrested a South African woman, Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie, at Port Harcourt International Airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle 32.74 kilogrammes of Thai Loud into the country.
The drugs were reportedly concealed in her luggage.
Earlier, on July 6, 2026, the agency arrested another South African national, 38-year-old Will Jessica Ann, at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after allegedly discovering 5.75 kilogrammes of heroin concealed in 14 large blocks inside her luggage .
The suspect was arrested during inward clearance of passengers aboard a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Abuja.
The NDLEA said investigations into the arrests were continuing, with efforts focused on identifying the international networks responsible for the drug shipments.
The agency maintained that the arrests reflected the increasing use of foreign nationals as couriers by international drug trafficking organisations.
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