A South African court on Tuesday sentenced Nigerian national, Victor Udoh and his South African accomplice, Vuyisekha Mzwakhe, to a combined 37 years in prison for drug trafficking offences.
Udoh, 33, received a 22-year sentence, comprising 20 years for drug trafficking and two years for immigration violations, while Mzwakhe was sentenced to 15 years for acting as a willing drug courier.
According to reports from Nova News, the pair coordinated their drug operations through social media platforms.
Mzwakhe reportedly contacted Udoh via messenger apps and agreed to transport drugs across major cities, including Johannesburg, Durban, and Plettenberg Bay.
Investigators stated that Udoh covered her travel and accommodation expenses.
On 15 October 2021, the duo checked into a guesthouse in George, where a courier delivered a parcel, which they later collected before boarding a taxi to Oudtshoorn.
Police, acting on a tip-off, intercepted the taxi at a roadblock and discovered Mzwakhe in possession of 743 grams of methamphetamine, locally known as ‘tik,’ valued at R260,050.
During the trial, prosecutors described Udoh as the mastermind of the operation and Mzwakhe as a willing participant.
Both had pleaded not guilty, but the court found the evidence compelling and lawful.
The court also heard that Udoh had been living illegally in South Africa for over five years after his asylum request was rejected.
Both defendants had spent time in custody during the trial, Udoh for five years, and Mzwakhe for one year after jumping bail.
South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority commended the ruling, highlighting that drug-related crimes continue to drive violence in local communities.
