NDLEA Raises Alarm Over Foreign Drug Cartels, Arrests 3 South Africans

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has raised the alarm over the increasing involvement of foreign nationals, particularly South Africans, in international drug trafficking operations using Nigeria as a transit route.

The agency disclosed that three South African nationals had been arrested in separate operations, with large consignments of heroin, cocaine and synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Loud, recovered from them.

The Assistant Director, Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA, Francis Okogun, disclosed this on Thursday during a joint security briefing in Abuja.

Okogun said the arrests had raised concerns about the growing involvement of foreign nationals in facilitating the movement of illicit drugs through Nigeria to other parts of the world, as well as the importation of such substances into the country.

He said, “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.

“For the period under review, three individuals were arrested.

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“What makes these arrests particularly significant is the large quantities of drugs recovered, including heroin, cocaine and synthetic cannabis popularly known as Loud. These individuals are suspected of working on behalf of international drug cartels.”

The NDLEA spokesman said investigations were ongoing to establish the intended destinations of the seized drugs and identify the international cartels behind the shipments.

He explained that investigating drug trafficking networks was often challenging because suspects rarely disclosed the identities of their sponsors or the final destinations of their consignments.

“We are therefore conducting painstaking investigations to establish the actual destinations of the drugs and identify the cartels responsible for the shipments,” he said.

The disclosure comes amid a series of arrests involving South African nationals at Nigerian international airports.

In October 2026, NDLEA operatives arrested a South African woman, Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie, at the Port Harcourt International Airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle 32.74 kilogrammes of synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Thai Loud.

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Earlier, on July 6, 2026, operatives arrested another South African, 38-year-old Will Jessica Ann, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after allegedly discovering 5.75 kilogrammes of heroin concealed in 14 blocks inside her luggage.

The suspect was arrested during the inward clearance of passengers on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Abuja.

Meanwhile, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig-Gen Buba Marwa, has declared war against drug abuse and trafficking in Edo State, calling for a collective effort by government institutions, religious organisations and communities to tackle the menace.

Marwa made the declaration on Thursday during an interactive stakeholder engagement in Benin City, themed, ‘Addressing the Drug Problem in Edo State.’

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Air Force, National Youth Service Corps, civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations and community leaders, among others.

Addressing participants, Marwa stressed that the fight against drug abuse and trafficking required the active involvement of all segments of society.

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He said the NDLEA, despite being the lead agency responsible for enforcing drug laws in the country, could not win the battle without the cooperation of other stakeholders.

“I am here personally to declare war against drug abuse and trafficking in Edo State. Though the NDLEA is the lead agency in the country for the enforcement of drug laws, we cannot do it alone.

“We must, as parents, engage early and seek help for our children. There is no shame in it. This is very important for our children and for the future of our country.

“Each of us must play our part. When each contributes his part or her part, in the end, we know that this monster will be conquered,” he said.

Marwa also disclosed plans to engage Christian and Islamic religious leaders in the state, urging them to use their platforms to educate worshippers and mobilise communities against drug abuse.

He said he would meet with executives of the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Islamic Council in Benin to seek their support in the campaign.

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The NDLEA chairman further urged parents and guardians to provide positive examples for their children, monitor their activities and seek professional assistance whenever they notice signs of drug abuse.

He also called on schools across the country to establish drug-free and counselling clubs, encouraging students to report cases whenever they were offered illicit substances.

Earlier, the Edo State NDLEA Commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, said the fight against drug abuse and trafficking could not be won in isolation.

He called for stronger collaboration among security agencies and other stakeholders, thanking sister agencies for their support in the arrests and drug seizures recorded by the command over the years.

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