Johannesburg – A 21-year-old woman who arrived on a flight from Brazil has been arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on suspicion that she has ingested pellets of drugs.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the South African woman arrested on Sunday, (29 September 2024), was the 11 suspected drug mule to be arrested at the airport in the last two months.
“The drug mule was profiled and intercepted as she was arriving on a flight from São Paulo, Brazil on Sunday morning, just before 09:00,” said Brigadier Mathe.
“She was taken to a local hospital where an X-ray confirmed that she was having foreign objects in her stomach.
“She has already released a number of bullets from her body and is in police custody where police are closely monitoring the release of further drug bullets.”
SA Police Service National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola has commended the vigilance of customs and police officers at the Airport.
“Our men and women in blue working closely with SARS customs and various stakeholders continue to assert the authority of the state at all our ports of entry,” said General Masemola.
“We appreciate the hard work and dedication of our members and urge them to do more to squeeze the space for criminals.
“Drug traffickers are feeling the heat and there is nowhere to hide.”
Every week in the last month, police, customs, immigration, and Border Management Authority officers at OR Tambo International Airport have been intercepting drug traffickers.
On Sunday, 22 September 2024, a 30-year-old Namibian drug mule was arrested after arriving from São Paulo. She too was taken for medical examination and released more than 60 drug bullets.
RELATED: Namibian Drug Mule Arrested At OR Tambo Airport Has Expelled At Least 63 Pellets – The Bulrushes
She has already appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrates Court on a charge of dealing in drugs.
On Friday, 13 September 2024, A Nigerian drug mule was arrested after he was found in possession of cocaine that was concealed in aircraft headphones.
RELATED: Cocaine Hidden In Headphones: Nigerian Arrested At OR Tambo Is 9Th ‘Drug Mule’ Bust – The Bulrushes
He too had just landed from São Paulo. He has already appeared before the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on a charge of dealing in drugs.
