Johannesburg — Police in Gauteng remain on high alert to combat all illicit activities in the province as another drug bust arrest was conducted at OR Tambo International Airport.
Police arrested a 21-year-old Brazilian drug trafficker from São Paulo who was arrested on Tuesday afternoon. SAPS crime intelligence followed up on information when he was intercepted shortly after landing in Johannesburg from Brazil after 12pm.
“The drug mule was taken to a local hospital where a medical x-ray confirmed the presence of foreign objects in his stomach. The process to release these foreign objects has started and the SAPS can confirm that plastic-covered cocaine ‘bullets’ are being released by the suspect,” Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said.
A 21-yr old Brazilian drug trafficker was arrested at OR TAMBO Airport on Tuesday afternoon. He had just landed from São Paulo when he was intercepted by SAPS crime intelligence. He was taken for a medical Xray which confirmed the presence of drugs in his body. He is releasing pic.twitter.com/jODcW5Jt4v
— Athlenda Mathe (@AthlendaM) December 3, 2024
“The suspects will appear before the Kempton Park Magistrates Court on a charge of drug possession and trafficking before the end of this week. Police at OR Tambo International Airport remain vigilant as police countrywide intensify their safer festive operations,” Mathe added.
This arrest marks the third incident of a Brazilian international being busted at OR Tambo for drugs. The first suspect was arrested last week Sunday for carrying more than 3kg of cocaine valued at R1.8 million.
The second incident involved a 44-year-old who was arrested for attempting to smuggle cocaine in South Africa. She was arrested after an intelligence operation that led police to intercept the drug mule upon her arrival at OR Tambo. She was found with cocaine wrapped around her body.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
