A Nigerian national and a South African woman have been handed a combined prison sentence of 37 years by a South African court for their involvement in a drug trafficking operation that was orchestrated through social media.
Social Media Pact Leads to Arrest
The case, prosecuted by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), involved Victor Ikechukwu Udoh, a 33-year-old Nigerian, and Vuyisekha Miranda Mzwakhe, a South African citizen. According to NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila, Mzwakhe initiated contact with Udoh via social media, offering her services as a drug mule to transport narcotics within South Africa.
Mzwakhe specifically stated she would move drugs from Plettenberg Bay to cities like Johannesburg or Durban, but would not cross the country's borders. Despite Udoh questioning her certainty, she confirmed her commitment to the plan.
The Sting Operation and Court Sentencing
Udoh financed Mzwakhe's trip from Gqeberha to George in October 2021 and paid for her accommodation at a guesthouse. The operation unraveled when police, acting on a tip-off about a suspicious couple, set up a roadblock for a taxi traveling to Oudtshoorn.
During the search, police found a box containing 743 grams of Methamphetamine (known as Tik) with an estimated street value of R260,050 on Mzwakhe's lap. She claimed the parcel belonged to Udoh, who was carrying her personal bag.
The Oudtshoorn Regional Court in the Western Cape delivered the sentences on Tuesday, December 2, 2025. Vuyisekha Miranda Mzwakhe was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for drug dealing. Victor Ikechukwu Udoh received a 20-year sentence for the same offence, with an additional 2 years for violating immigration laws, as he had overstayed his visa by more than five years after his asylum application was rejected in 2016.
Failed Defences and Final Outcome
Both accused initially pleaded not guilty. Mzwakhe argued she was unaware the parcel contained drugs, while Udoh challenged the constitutionality of the search and seizure. However, their defences collapsed when social media messages presented in court confirmed their discussions about drug transportation just days before the arrest.
Mzwakhe was initially released on bail but was rearrested after failing to appear in court and spent a year in custody before sentencing. Udoh, who was denied bail, spent five years in prison awaiting the final verdict.
This case highlights the severe legal consequences of drug trafficking in South Africa and the increasing role of social media platforms in facilitating such criminal activities.
