The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has raised concerns over the increasing involvement of South African nationals in international drug trafficking.
The agency said three South Africans had been arrested in recent operations, with large quantities of heroin, cocaine and synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Loud, recovered from them.
The Assistant Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Francis Okogun, disclosed this on Thursday during a joint security briefing in Abuja.
Okogun said, “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.
“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.
“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.”
Okogun said the suspects were suspected of working for international drug cartels, adding that investigations were ongoing to establish the destinations of the drugs and identify those behind the shipments.
“As you know, drug traffickers rarely volunteer information about their sponsors or the final destinations of their consignments.
“These individuals are suspected of working on behalf of international drug cartels.
“As you know, drug traffickers rarely volunteer information about 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 in separate drug trafficking cases at Nigerian airports.
In October 2026, the NDLEA 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.
Earlier, on July 6, 2026, operatives of the agency 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.
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