Johannesburg – A suspected drug mule, who flew into South Africa from Brazil, has been arrested at the OR Tambo International Airport after police found cocaine with an estimated street value of about R1 million on the flight he arrived on.
Police said they acted on a tip-off that a man aboard a flight from Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport, in Brazil, was carrying illicit drugs.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said as soon as the identified aircraft landed on Tuesday, (30 July 2024), just before 7 am, police identified the mule.
“A team searched the aircraft and found a parcel of cocaine worth R1 million,” said Brigadier Mathe.
“The cocaine was discovered – wrapped in plastic – leading police to believe that the consignment was strapped to his body.”
The man, who is Brazilian, has been detained and charged with drug trafficking. He will appear before the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court this week.
SA Police Service National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola “welcomed” the arrest and warned those involved in transnational organised crime that South Africa was “no playground”.
He added: “Our members throughout the country remain vigilant and ready to intercept these drug traffickers.”
