Johannesburg – South African police have arrested a Dutch national at OR Tambo International Airport for allegedly attempting to traffic more than 40 kilograms of the drug Khat, with an estimated street value of R240,000.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk said the arrest occurred this week during an intelligence-driven operation at the airport.
The suspect was intercepted while en route to Frankfurt, Germany, with the Khat concealed inside his luggage.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed the seizure in a statement on Saturday.
The suspect is expected to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 25 May 2026, facing charges related to drug trafficking.
SAPS described the operation as part of intensified efforts to combat transnational organised crime and drug trafficking at the country’s ports of entry.
“Over the past two years, SAPS has intercepted and arrested more than 50 drug mules at the OR Tambo International Airport,” the statement said.
Khat, a stimulant plant commonly chewed in parts of East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, is classified as a controlled substance in South Africa.
No further details about the suspect’s identity have been released at this stage.
