A 38-year-old South African woman, Will Jessica Ann, has been sentenced to 40 years in prison by a Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria, for importing 5.75kg of heroin into the country.
Ann was arrested by operatives of Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja after 14 large blocks of heroin were allegedly found concealed in her luggage.
According to the prosecution, Ann allegedly used her three-year-old son as a cover in an attempt to evade security checks at the airport.
The case involved charges of conspiracy and unlawful importation of the controlled substance.
The court sentenced Ann to 15 years’ imprisonment for importation and 25 years for conspiracy. The sentences are to run concurrently, meaning they will be served at the same time.
The development adds to ongoing efforts by Nigerian authorities to combat the trafficking and importation of illicit drugs through the country’s international entry points.
The NDLEA has continued to carry out drug interdiction operations at airports and other entry points as part of measures to disrupt international narcotics trafficking networks.
