A South African court has sentenced a Nigerian national, Victor Udoh, and his South African associate, Vuyisekha Mzwakhe, to a combined 37 years in prison after finding them guilty of drug-related offences and other violations.

According to reports on Tuesday from Nova News, a South Africa–based online news outlet, that the 33-year-old Nigerian and his South African partner were convicted for orchestrating their drug-running operations through social media.

While Mzwakhe received 15 years for her role as a willing drug courier, according to the report, the Oudtshoorn Regional Court sentenced Udoh to 22 years—20 years for drug dealing and an additional two years for immigration violations.

Investigators traced the arrangement to a guesthouse in George, where a parcel was delivered to the pair on October 15, 2021. Police later intercepted a taxi transporting the two suspects to Oudtshoorn after receiving intelligence on their movements. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of a box containing 743 grams of methamphetamine, popularly known as “tik,” with an estimated street value of R260,050.

During the trial, state prosecutor Hyron Goulding argued that the evidence pointed to Udoh as the coordinator of the operation, while Mzwakhe acted as a willing participant. Both defendants pleaded not guilty with Mzwakhe denying knowledge of the contents of the package and Udoh challenging the legality of the search but the court ruled that officers had appropriate authorisation for the roadblock and that the suspects had consented to the search.

The court was also informed that Udoh had been residing unlawfully in South Africa for more than five years after his asylum application was rejected in 2016.

While Mzwakhe was initially released on bail, she was later rearrested for failing to appear in court. Udoh remained in custody throughout the five-year duration of the trial after being denied bail.

The National Prosecuting Authority welcomed the judgment, saying the ruling underscores the justice system’s commitment to confronting drug-related crimes, which it described as a major driver of violence and community destabilisation.

The National Prosecuting Authority welcomed the verdict, noting that “the availability and abuse of drugs is destroying communities, leading to serious violent crimes.”

Udoh’s sentencing coincided with reports that 50 Nigerians were recently arrested in one of India’s largest coordinated crackdowns on a transnational narcotics network.

The suspects were believed to be connected to a vast drug-distribution and hawala money-laundering syndicate operating across several major Indian cities.