Johannesburg – The 43-year-old drug mule from Paraguay arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday has been rushed to hospital following health complications related to expelling ingested pellets with cocaine.
The Deputy National Commissioner responsible for policing, Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili on Monday revealed that the drug mule has been rushed to hospital following a health complication.
She said the suspect had released 117 pellets when he started to bleed, which was an indication that there was a medical challenge.
“The releasing process has been stopped,” said Lieutenant General Mosikili.
“This must send a strong message out there and serve as a deterrent that this exercise is dangerous and can cause loss of life.”
Each pellet has about 10 grams of cocaine, which could be lethal if there is a rupture while in the stomach of the drug mule.
According to Statista, the street price of cocaine was set at an average of US $81 per gram.
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Lieutenant General Mosikili warned that the SA Police Service “remains on high alert to prevent and combat criminality at OR Tambo International Airport”.
