A 38-year-old South African woman, Will Jessica Ann, has been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for allegedly attempting to smuggle 5.75 kilograms of heroin into Nigeria through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.
According to the NDLEA, the suspect was intercepted on Monday, July 6, 2026, during the clearance of passengers arriving on Qatar Airways Flight QR1433 from Doha. She was reportedly travelling with her three-year-old son, whom investigators believe she used as a cover to avoid suspicion.
The anti-narcotics agency said officers discovered 14 large blocks of heroin concealed inside two suitcases linked to the suspect. During initial questioning, Will Jessica Ann allegedly denied having any checked-in luggage. However, NDLEA operatives matched the baggage claim tags on the suitcases with those attached to her passport, prompting her to admit ownership of the bags. She reportedly claimed she had forgotten she checked them in.
The suspect told investigators that she travelled from Cambodia through Doha to Abuja. Preliminary intelligence gathered by the agency allegedly links her to a transnational drug trafficking network operating between Cambodia and South Africa, alongside a man identified as Jan Coenraad De Jager, believed to be her husband or partner.
The arrest was announced by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, as part of a series of major anti-drug operations carried out across the country. In the same operation, the agency also reported the seizure of large quantities of illicit drugs at ports and airports, reaffirming its commitment to combating drug trafficking in Nigeria.
If convicted, the suspect could face severe penalties under Nigeria’s drug trafficking laws. The NDLEA has stated that investigations are ongoing to uncover other members of the alleged international drug syndicate.
