Cocaine Worth R9 Million Seized at OR Tambo Airport in Joburg

A total of 30kg of cocaine estimated at almost R9 million was seized by South African Revenue Service (SARS) customs officials in two separate incidents at OR Tambo International Airport on Friday.

In a statement, SARS said collaboration between customs officials and the South African Police Service led to the arrest of a passenger disembarking from a Sao Paulo flight via Johannesburg in transit to Mozambique.

“A scan of the passenger’s luggage revealed irregular images and led to a second inspection which uncovered ten boxes of imitation jewellery. Ninety wooden sticks were found in the boxes concealing a white substance which tested positively for cocaine.

“A total of 24.66kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of R7 094 682 was confiscated and handed to the South African Police Service,” said SARS.

In the second incident, customs officials intercepted 6.3kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of R1 812 510 concealed in the base of a passenger’s luggage.

The passenger was also on a Sao Paulo flight travelling via Johannesburg in transit to Mozambique.

SARS said both the passenger and the consignment were handed over to the police for further investigation.

It added that the successful operations are part of the increased joint operations between SARS and the South African Police Service.

In July this year, SARS intercepted 26kg of cocaine, worth an estimated R7.4 million, at OR Tambo International Airport, also from Sao Paolo. The drugs were hidden in cosmetic products, and on its way to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

And in August, SA police officer Angela Maluleke (33) was arrested for drug possession at São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport, with allegedly six bricks of cocaine in her luggage.

– Main source: SAnews.gov.za