Staff Reporter
A JOINT operation between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) Customs at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) has led to the arrest of a 21-year-old South African woman for drug trafficking.
This is the eleventh drug mule to be arrested at ORTIA in a period of two months.
According to a statement provided by the South African Police Service, the drug mule was profiled and intercepted as she was arriving on a flight from São Paulo, Brazil, on Sunday morning, just before 09:00. She was taken to a local hospital where an X-ray confirmed that she had foreign objects in her stomach. She has already passed a number of drug pellets and is currently in police custody, where she is being closely monitored for the release of further pellets. The process is ongoing.
The National Commissioner of SAPS, General Fannie Masemola, commended the vigilance of SARS and SAPS members at the airport.
“Our men and women in blue, working closely with SARS Customs and various stakeholders, continue to assert the authority of the state at all our ports of entry. We appreciate the hard work and dedication of our members and urge them to do more to squeeze the space for criminals. Drug traffickers are feeling the heat, and there is nowhere to hide,” said General Masemola.
In recent weeks, SAPS, SARS Customs, Immigration, and BMA at ORTIA have been intercepting drug traffickers on a weekly basis.
On Sunday, 22 September 2024, a 30-year-old Namibian drug mule was arrested after arriving from São Paulo. She was taken for medical examination and passed more than 60 drug pellets. She has already appeared in Kempton Park Magistrates Court on a charge of dealing in drugs. The Namibian woman is expected to apply for bail on 3 October 2024.
On Friday, 13 September 2024, a Nigerian drug mule was arrested after being found in possession of cocaine concealed in aircraft headphones. He had also just landed from São Paulo. He has already appeared before the Kempton Park Magistrates Court on a charge of dealing in drugs.
