Alert South African customs officers at OR Tambo International Airport have intercepted a huge consignment of the illicit drug crystal meth weighing 785 kg with a street value of more than R200 million.
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) said the pelleted cargo was destined for Australia.
“The consignment which was declared as ‘Multi-Purpose Anti-Slip Mat’ was upon physical inspection, found to have been used to conceal crystal meth weighing 785 kg with the street value of R236 million,” said SARS in a statement Sunday morning.
The South African Police Service’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks) was informed about the detection and seizure.
The contraband was handed over to the Hawks for further investigation.
SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter said: “I want to send a clear warning to the criminal syndicates that are using our ports of entry/exit to commit this type of crime, that our officers are alert and working very hard to stamp out such criminality.
“The excellent cooperation with other law enforcement agencies at these ports is enabling all of us to deal a deadly blow to these illegal activities”.
Kieswetter also commended customs officers for stopping the despatch of the drugs.
