South African woman caught with heroin at Abuja airport

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has 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 in Abuja.

According to the agency, the suspect was arrested on Monday, July 6, 2026, during the clearance of passengers arriving on Qatar Airways Flight QR1433 from Doha. She was travelling with her three-year-old son at the time of the arrest.  

In a statement, the NDLEA alleged that the suspect concealed 14 large blocks of heroin inside two suitcases. Officials said she initially denied travelling with any checked-in luggage.

However, operatives reportedly matched the baggage tags on the suitcases with the claim tags attached to her passport, prompting her to admit ownership of the luggage.

NDLEA arrests South African in Abuja

According to the agency, the suspect claimed she had forgotten that she checked in the two bags.

"Though she initially denied travelling with check-in bags, after operatives were able to quickly establish that the two bags containing the drugs had tags which tallied with the claim tags attached to her passport, she recanted and admitted ownership of the bags, adding that she forgot she checked in the two bags," the NDLEA said.

The agency said the suspect told investigators she travelled from Cambodia through Doha to Abuja.

The NDLEA further alleged that intelligence gathered during the investigation linked the woman to a transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating between Cambodia and South Africa, involving her husband and partner, Jan Coenraad De Jager.

The agency said investigations into the case are ongoing.