Court Jails South African Woman 40 Years For Smuggling 5.75kg Heroin Into Nigeria

A Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted and sentenced a 38-year-old South African woman, Ms. Will Jessica Ann, to 40 years imprisonment for importing 5.75 kilograms of heroin into Nigeria.

Justice Obiora Atuegwu Egwuatu delivered the judgment on Thursday, September 17, 2026, after the convict pleaded guilty to a two-count charge bordering on the importation of heroin and conspiracy to import the illicit drug into the country.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said Ann was arrested by its operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, after she attempted to smuggle 14 large blocks of heroin weighing 5.75kg concealed in her luggage. According to the agency, she used her three-year-old son as a cover in an attempt to beat security checks and avoid thorough screening.

The agency said the suspect arrived in Abuja aboard Qatar Airways flight QR1433 from Doha on Monday, July 6, 2026. During passenger clearance, she initially denied travelling with any checked baggage. However, NDLEA officers discovered that two suitcases containing the drugs bore luggage tags matching the claim tags attached to her passport.

When confronted with the evidence, Ann admitted ownership of the bags, claiming she had forgotten that she checked them in. She told investigators she travelled from Cambodia through Doha to Abuja.

Further investigations by the agency revealed that she allegedly belongs to a transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Cambodia-South Africa route with her husband and partner, Jan Coenraad De Jager.

The NDLEA disclosed that De Jager was later arrested in Johannesburg, South Africa, on July 27, 2026, while allegedly attempting to traffic 3.2 kilograms of illicit drugs to Hong Kong.

Ann was subsequently arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja in suit FHC/ABJ/CR/422/2026, where she pleaded guilty to both charges.

In his judgment, Justice Egwuatu sentenced her to 15 years imprisonment on Count One and 25 years on Count Two, making a total of 40 years. The court, however, ordered that the sentences should run concurrently.

Reacting to the judgment, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), described the conviction as a strong demonstration of the judiciary’s commitment to supporting the agency’s fight against drug trafficking.

Marwa said the verdict sends a clear message to international drug cartels that Nigeria will not serve as a transit route or destination for hard drugs.

He noted that the arrest of the convict’s husband in South Africa less than three weeks after her arrest underscores the effectiveness of intelligence sharing and collaboration between the NDLEA and its international partners.

According to him, the speedy conclusion of the case—from the suspect’s arrest to conviction—reflects the efficiency of the agency’s operations and its strong working relationship with the Federal High Court.

Marwa reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strengthening airport surveillance, intelligence-led operations and international cooperation to dismantle transnational drug trafficking networks, warning that anyone caught trafficking illicit drugs through Nigeria, regardless of nationality, will face the full weight of the law.