NDLEA Arrests South African Woman with 5.75kg Heroin at Abuja Airport
NDLEA Arrests South African Woman with 5.75kg Heroin at Abuja Airport
NDLEA Arrests South African Woman with 5.75kg Heroin at Abuja Airport
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 38-year-old South African woman, identified as Will Ann, for allegedly attempting to smuggle 5.75 kilograms of heroin into Nigeria through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The suspect was arrested on Monday, July 6, 2026, during the arrival clearance of passengers aboard Qatar Airways Flight QR1433 from Doha, Qatar, while travelling with her three-year-old son.
According to the NDLEA, the suspect allegedly concealed 14 large parcels of heroin inside two suitcases.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the anti-narcotics agency said the suspect initially denied travelling with any checked baggage.
However, NDLEA operatives reportedly traced the baggage tags to claim tags attached to her passport, prompting further questioning.
“Though she initially denied travelling with checked-in bags, operatives quickly established that the two bags containing the drugs had baggage tags corresponding with the claim tags attached to her passport. She subsequently admitted ownership of the bags, claiming she forgot she had checked them in,” the statement said.
The agency disclosed that the suspect told investigators she travelled from Cambodia through Doha before arriving in Abuja.
Preliminary investigations, according to the NDLEA, indicate that the suspect is allegedly linked to a transnational drug trafficking network operating along the Cambodia–South Africa route.
The agency further alleged that the syndicate is operated in collaboration with her husband and suspected accomplice, Jan Coenraad De Jager.
The NDLEA said investigations are ongoing to dismantle the wider trafficking network and identify other members of the alleged international drug syndicate.
The agency reiterated its commitment to strengthening surveillance at Nigeria’s airports and borders to curb illicit drug trafficking and bring those involved in narcotics-related crimes to justice.
NDLEA Arrests South African Woman with 5.75kg Heroin at Abuja Airport
