Police have arrested a suspected Brazilian drug trafficker at OR Tambo International Airport after allegedly discovering cocaine worth an estimated R8.7 million concealed in luggage.
According to South African Police Service spokesperson Athlenda Mathe, officers acted on intelligence when the 26-year-old suspect arrived from Brazil on Sunday afternoon.
A search of the suspect’s luggage revealed multiple blocks of cocaine that had been wrapped and hidden inside.
The suspect is expected to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, where they will face drug trafficking charges.
Police said the arrest forms part of ongoing intelligence-driven operations targeting transnational drug networks operating through the airport.
Authorities have also reported a series of recent drug busts at the same airport. In late March, five South African suspects were arrested after drugs worth more than R5 million were allegedly found concealed in clothing and body cavities during a trip to China via Dubai.
Earlier that month, additional seizures at airport warehouses uncovered crystal meth and dagga with a combined value of nearly R3 million, destined for international markets.
Police say these operations are part of broader efforts to disrupt organised crime and curb the flow of illicit drugs through key transport hubs.
Facebook Comments