Cape Town – A 29-year-old South African woman has been arrested in Ethiopia with 13kg of cocaine worth R5.4 million.
The arrest followed a joint operation between the South African Police Services (SAPS) Gauteng counter-narcotics intelligence unit and the Ethiopian Federal Police, SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said.
The woman, flagged by SAPS Interpol for drug trafficking, had travelled to Brazil to collect the drugs and was intercepted in Addis Ababa on her return.
“The woman indeed travelled to Brazil from OR Tambo International Airport during the first week of October. According to the drug trafficker’s itinerary, she was supposed to travel from Brazil via Addis Ababa via Sudan and back to South Africa,” said Mathe.
#sapsHQ The National Commissioner of the SAPS, Gen Fannie Masemola has commended the joint collaboration between SAPS Gauteng counter narcotics intelligence and the Ethiopian Federal Police after a female South African drug trafficker was arrested in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
SAPS… pic.twitter.com/ZUCys4oZes— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) October 14, 2024
SAPS intelligence alerted the Ethiopian Federal Police about the woman’s movements.
Upon her arrival in Addis Ababa on 12 October 2024, she was flagged, and her luggage search revealed 13kg of cocaine.
“She was immediately apprehended and is expected to be charged and appear in court in Ethiopia,” Mathe said.
SAPS National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola praised the collaboration, emphasising the importance of African police cooperation to combat transnational organised crime.
The woman is expected to face charges in Ethiopia.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
