Latest news with #R1.4m
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
20-05-2025
- The Citizen
Young women arrested in vehicle smuggling bust near Polokwane
POLOKWANE – Two young women, age 19 and 20, will appear before the Polokwane Magistrate's Court today on charges of possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle. The duo were arrested on the R101 near the Polokwane weighbridge on Sunday night (May 18) during a coordinated anti-smuggling operation involving SAPS' Anti-Smuggling team, Tshimollo Security and Investigation and Reflex Anti-Hijacking Security. You might also want to read: Limpopo police stop stolen vehicle en route to Zimbabwe The Limpopo police spokesperson Col Malesela Ledwaba said officers intercepted a double cab bakkie on the R101, with preliminary investigations confirming that the vehicle was stolen last Friday (May 16) in the Garsfontein area in Pretoria. The vehicle was destined for the Beitbridge Border Post to be smuggled into Zimbabwe. 'During the stop, one male suspect fled into nearby bushes, while two female suspects attempted to escape but were apprehended after a foot chase and arrested,' he said. In a separate incident, officers intercepted an SUV in the Mokopane CBD, also en route to Beitbridge, with investigations revealing that the vehicle was reported stolen in the Wierdabrug policing area in Pretoria on Friday. 'The driver, a 34-year-old undocumented foreign national was arrested and will appear before the Mokopane Magistrate Court today,' Ledwaba said. The provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has commended the operational teams for their relentless efforts, resulting in the recovery of the stolen vehicles valued at R1.4m. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
