A joint operation between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African Revenue Services (SARS) Customs at the OR Tambo International (ORTIA) Airport 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.
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 was having foreign objects in her stomach.
She has already released a number of bullets from her body and is in police custody where police are closely monitoring the release of further drug bullets.
This process is still unfolding.
The National Commissioner of SAPS, General Fannie Masemola has commended the vigilance of members of SARS and SAPS 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 hardwork 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 Gen Fannie Masemola.
Every week in the last month, SAPS and SARS customs, immigration and BMA at ORTIA have been intercepting drug traffickers.
On Sunday, 22 September 2024, a 30-year-old Namibian drug mule was arrested after arriving from São Paulo. She too was taken for medical examination and released more than 60 drug bullets. She has already appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrates Court on a charge of dealing in drugs.
On Friday, 13 September 2024, A Nigerian drug mule was arrested after he was found in possession of cocaine that was concealed in aircraft head phones. He too had just landed from São Paulo. He has already appeared before the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on a charge of dealing in drugs.
The 21-year-old South African female drug trafficker that was arrested at ORTIA on Sunday has so far released more than 110 drug bullets suspected to be cocaine.
SAPS OR Tambo International Airport say this is more than the average drug bullets that drug mules that are intercepted at the OR Tambo Airport usually carry. Police are urging people not to go to extreme lengths to risk their lives as this exercise can turn fatal. Police are also concerned on the involvement of young women in this type of criminality. This drug mule is expected to appear before the Kempton Park Magistrate Court on Tuesday, 01 October 2024.
