Latest news with #Mozambicans
The Citizen
26-05-2025
- The Citizen
Foreign man caught smuggling cocaine at OR Tambo
A 39-year-old drug trafficker was arrested on arrival from Sao Paulo at OR Tambo International Airport on May 23. The Brazilian national was in transit to Benin when police officers stopped him at the airport. He was pulled aside and during a body search, cocaine was found wrapped around his legs. He was arrested and is expected to appear before the Kempton Park Magistrates Court on a charge of drug trafficking. ALSO READ: SAPS cracks down on drugs in Eldos The SAPS has reported that police officers are intensifying their efforts to clamp down on the illegal trade of drugs. The following successful arrests were reported from January to March: • 23 306 suspects were arrested for being in possession of drugs, including traffickers apprehended at OR Tambo International Airport. Most of the traffickers come from Brazil and were found to have swallowed the drugs. Through targeted intelligence operations, more than 20 drug traffickers were intercepted. • A total of 3 471 suspects were arrested for dealing in drugs; this included six Mozambicans and three South Africans who were arrested in Standerton. Drugs. High-performance vehicles and machinery, all to the cost of R27m, were confiscated in this operation, including R3m in cash found in a Mercedes Benz. During this same period, a clandestine drug laboratory was also shut down in Westonaria, Gauteng and two suspects were arrested. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The South African
25-05-2025
- The South African
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. DO YOU KNOW OF ANYONE WHO IS ADDICTED TO ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
24-05-2025
- The Citizen
Brazilian man arrested after being caught with cocaine worth R1.4m
The 39-year-old man at was intercepted by officers at OR Tambo International Airport on Friday, after arriving from São Paulo en route to Benin. A Brazilian national has been arrested after being caught with cocaine worth an estimated street value of R1.4 million strapped to his legs. The 39-year-old man was handcuffed by officers at OR Tambo International Airport on Friday morning after arriving from São Paulo. Arrest Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the drug mule was in transit to Benin when he was intercepted by 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 in the Kempton Park Magistrate's Court on a charge of drug trafficking'. ALSO READ: Police arrest Nigerian drug mule at OR Tambo International Airport Drug arrests Mathe said police were intensifying their efforts to clamp down on the illicit trade of drugs. She said from January 2025 to March 2025, 23 306 suspects were arrested for possession of drugs. 'These include drug traffickers that continue to be apprehended at OR Tambo International Airport. Most of these drug traffickers are coming into the country from Brazil and are found to have swallowed these drugs. 'Through targeted intelligence operations we have been able to intercept more than 20 drug traffickers in the last six months at this port of entry,' Mathe said. Drug dealing Mathe added that a total of 3 471 suspects were also arrested for dealing in drugs. These include six Mozambicans and three South Africans who were arrested in Standerton, Mpumalanga, after police dismantled a clandestine drug laboratory in the area. 'Drugs, high-performance vehicles and machinery, all to the value of R27 million, were confiscated in this operation, including R3 million in cash that was found in the boot of a Mercedes-Benz,' Mathe said. Drug lab Mathe said during this same period, a clandestine drug laboratory was also shut down in Westonaria, Gauteng. Two suspects were arrested. 'On the 7 March 2025, the national police commissioner led a drug destruction operation in the Western Cape, where drugs worth R340 million were destroyed. Mathe said the police destroy drugs that are seized from various operations on a regular basis to ensure it permanently removes the drugs from circulation. In the past three years, R5.2 billion worth of drugs had been destroyed. ALSO READ: Gauteng man arrested for transporting crystal meth worth R50m
TimesLIVE
23-05-2025
- TimesLIVE
'Drug trafficker' from Brazil nabbed at OR Tambo
A 39-year-old suspected drug trafficker was arrested on arrival from São Paulo, Brazil at the OR Tambo International Airport on Friday morning. Police said the Brazilian landed at 9am from São Paulo and was in transit to Benin when he was intercepted by police officers at the airport. 'He was pulled aside and during a body search cocaine worth R1.4m was found wrapped around his legs,' police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe said. The man was arrested and is expected to appear before the Kempton Park magistrate's court soon on a charge of drug trafficking. Mathe said the police were intensifying their efforts to clamp down on the illicit trade of drugs. She said between January and March, 23,306 suspects had been arrested nationally for being in possession of drugs. These included drug traffickers who continued to be apprehended at OR Tambo International Airport. 'Most of these drug traffickers are coming into the country from Brazil and are found to have swallowed these drugs. Through targeted intelligence operations, we have been able to intercept more than 20 drug traffickers in the last six months at this port of entry.' Mathe said 3,471 suspects had been arrested for dealing in drugs. These included six Mozambicans and three South Africans who were arrested in Standerton, Mpumalanga, after police dismantled a clandestine drug laboratory in that area. Drugs, high performance vehicles and machinery valued at R27m were confiscated in this operation including R3m in cash that was found in the boot of a Mercedes-Benz. During this same period, a clandestine drug laboratory was also shut down in Westonaria in Gauteng.
The Citizen
19-05-2025
- The Citizen
Foreign nationals nabbed with suspected stolen vehicle
Two foreign nationals were on Friday arrested in the eManguzi cross-border crime operation, Project Umgodiwemvubu. The duo, Julian Stephen Antonio (45) and Paschal Ebenezer Mollel (34), believed to be Mozambicans, were caught with a suspected stolen Ford Ranger bakkie on the R22 in Manguzi. ALSO READ: Efforts to curb cross-border crime welcomed uMkhanyadukde Cluster police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Sibusiso Mkhize said the men were charged with possession of a suspected stolen vehicle, as well as fraud and forgery. 'Project Umgodiwemvubu police deployed in uMkhanyakude District to curb cross-border crimes, spotted a suspicious vehicle with two occupants in Manguzi. 'The police stopped and searched the vehicle. During the search and preliminary investigation, police discovered that the vehicle had been reported stolen in Witbank. A suspected fraudulent document in the vehicle was found. 'They appeared before Manguzi Magistrate's Court on Monday and were remanded in custody pending police investigation. They are expected to appear this week for a formal bail application,' said Mkhize. District commissioner Brigadier Jeros Thango applauded the arrests and further appreciated the commitment of the police in fighting cross-border crimes in uMkhanyakude District. Thango also praised the successes of the team as 10 vehicles have been recovered since 1 April to date. Don't have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here: HAVE YOUR SAY Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. For news straight to your phone invite us: WhatsApp – 060 784 2695 Instagram – zululand_observer At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
