A 21-year-old woman has been arrested at OR Tambo International Airport for drug trafficking, after authorities discovered she had drugs concealed in her stomach. This arrest is part of an ongoing effort by South African law enforcement agencies to crack down on drug smuggling at the country’s ports of entry.
The woman, a South African national, arrived in Johannesburg on a flight from São Paulo, Brazil, on Sunday morning. Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe explained that the suspect was profiled and intercepted as she disembarked from the plane around 9 a.m. As per procedure, the woman was taken to a nearby hospital where an X-ray revealed the presence of foreign objects inside her body.
According to Mathe, the woman had already excreted several drug capsules before being taken into custody. She remains under police observation, and the authorities are continuing to monitor her condition to recover the remaining capsules.https://twitter.com/MDNnewss/status/1840396694480884005?s=19
This arrest comes as part of a broader operation at OR Tambo International Airport involving the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African Revenue Services (SARS) Customs. The two agencies, working in collaboration, have been conducting rigorous screenings and monitoring of flights arriving from high-risk destinations, including Brazil, a well-known drug trafficking hub.
The arrest of the 21-year-old marks the 11th time a suspected drug mule has been detained at OR Tambo in just two months. The previous week, authorities arrested a 30-year-old Namibian woman under similar circumstances, after she arrived in Johannesburg with 68 capsules of cocaine in her stomach.
National police commissioner General Fannie Masemola lauded the successful joint operation between law enforcement and customs officials. He emphasized the importance of maintaining vigilance at all of South Africa’s entry points, particularly airports, to stem the flow of illicit drugs into the country. “Our men and women in blue, working closely with SARS Customs and various stakeholders, continue to assert the authority of the state at all our ports of entry,” Masemola said. “Drug traffickers are feeling the heat, and there is nowhere to hide.”
Mathe further stated that there have been multiple drug interceptions over the past month, with several suspects apprehended for attempting to smuggle drugs into the country. She credited the combined efforts of SAPS, SARS Customs, immigration officials, and the border management agency at OR Tambo for the string of recent successes.
The rise in arrests of drug mules at OR Tambo suggests that South African authorities are making headway in their battle against international drug trafficking networks. However, the frequent targeting of the airport highlights the continuing challenges that law enforcement faces in curbing the illicit drug trade. São Paulo, Brazil, has long been a key departure point for drug couriers attempting to smuggle narcotics into Southern Africa, often using vulnerable individuals as drug mules to transport the substances internally.
As authorities continue to monitor the situation, the 21-year-old suspect will remain in police custody while the investigation unfolds. She is expected to face charges of drug trafficking, a serious offense that carries harsh penalties in South Africa.
The joint efforts of police and customs officials at OR Tambo International Airport have drawn praise for their tireless work in intercepting drug couriers. The arrests send a clear message to drug traffickers that law enforcement is stepping up its operations and tightening security at the country’s borders, in an effort to protect communities from the scourge of illegal drugs.