NDLEA raises concern over South Africans’ involvement in drug trafficking

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has raised concerns over the growing involvement of South African nationals in international drug trafficking, The PUNCH reports.

The agency’s Assistant Director, Media and Advocacy, Francis Okogun, said at a security briefing in Abuja on Thursday that three South Africans had been 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,” he said.

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

In October, operatives arrested South African Gebashe Sithandiwe Jessie at Port Harcourt Airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle 32.74 kilogrammes of synthetic cannabis.

On July 6, another South African, Will Jessica Ann, was arrested at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport with 5.75 kilogrammes of heroin allegedly concealed in her luggage.