Johannesburg – South African police have arrested a 43-year-old Paraguayan national at OR Tambo International Airport, marking the 14th drug mule apprehended at the airport in recent weeks, police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk confirmed on Saturday.
The suspect, who had arrived on a flight from São Paulo, was intercepted by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in collaboration with South African Revenue Service (SARS) officials.
A 43-year-old drug mule from Paraguay has been arrested at OR TAMBO AIRPORT. The drug trafficker landed from São Paulo at 07:00 am on Sunday, 06 October. A medical examination has confirmed foreign objects in his stomach. He has so far released more than 20 cocaine bullets pic.twitter.com/ul7HAqTlpw
— Athlenda Mathe (@AthlendaM) October 6, 2024
“A medical examination confirmed that he had swallowed multiple foreign objects and has so far released more than 20 bullets suspected to contain cocaine,” Van Wyk said.
The arrest is part of a broader crackdown on drug trafficking at OR Tambo, which has seen an increase in arrests over the past month.
14 drug mules have been arrested at the OR Tambo International Airport in recent weeks. Today, police arrested a 43-year-old male from Paraguay who had landed on a flight from São Paulo, Brazil. A medical examination confirmed that he had swallowed multiple foreign objects and… pic.twitter.com/GQQoNqaaPt
— eNCA (@eNCA) October 6, 2024
According to van Wyk, SAPS has detained at least one drug mule at the airport each week, including three this week alone.
Among the recent arrests were two Dutch nationals found smuggling 80kg of Khat, a stimulant often trafficked through international routes.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: X/@AthlendaM
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
