Drug mule busted at OR Tambo
An alleged drug mule travelling from São Paulo, Brazil, was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport. He was found in possession of R 1,4 million worth of cocaine wrapped around his legs.
The 39-year-old man, a Brazilian national, landed in Johannesburg and was in transit to Benin. His trip was foiled however after he was intercepted by police officers at the airport.
'He was pulled aside and during a body search, cocaine was found wrapped around his legs. He has been arrested and is expected to appear before the Kempton Park Magistrate's Court on a charge of drug trafficking', said SAPS spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe.
Mathe said the police are intensifying their efforts to clamp down on the illicit trade of drugs. Between January and March 2025, 23 306 suspected drug mules were arrested after being found in possession of drugs.
According to Mathe, this number includes drug traffickers that SAPS has managed to intercept at the OR Tambo in the past months.
'Most of these drug traffickers are coming into the country from Brazil and are found to have swallowed these drugs.
Mathe said SAPS conducts intelligence operations and they have yielded positive results. More than 20 drug smugglers have been identified and arrested in the last six months. All of them were arrested as they enter the airport.
According to Mathe, law enforcement is doing their best to root out illegal substances in the community. She said in the period between January to March 2025, a total of 3471 suspects were arrested for dealing in drugs.
She said the statistcs include six Mozambicans who were arrested in Standerton, Mpumalanga last month. They were arrested along three South Africans after police discovered that they were running a secret drug laboratory in the area.
'Drugs, high performance vehicles and machinery all to the tune of R27 million were confiscated in this
operation. Including R3 million in cash that was found in the boot of a Mercedes Benz', she continued.
According to her, the police destroy drugs that are seized from various operations on a regular basis. She said destroying the illegal substances ensures that police permanently remove drugs from circulation.
Mathe said R5.2 billion worth of drugs have been destroyed by police in the last three years. This is an achievement she was pleased to announce, she said.
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