Three alleged drug “mules” and three others suspected of smuggling counterfeit goods into South Africa were caught at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg at the weekend.
Sars said yesterday the first arrests were made last Thursday when customs officials “intercepted 10 bags and three boxes with counterfeit goods estimated at R4.2 million”.
“Three passengers from Hong Kong via Nairobi were linked to the 10 bags and three boxes filled with designer wrist watches, footwear and tracksuits. They have since been handed over to the counterfeit team and brand holder attorneys,”
Sars said.
On Sunday, two passengers who had landed at OR Tambo airport from São Paulo were found to have
swallowed “49 cocaine bullets each with a combined weight of 0.820kg estimated at R235 914, and were arrested. A third passenger was linked to three abandoned parcels containing 3kg of cocaine worth over R800 000”.
“The two passengers were identified as drug mules and taken for X-rays that revealed foreign objects in their abdomen, while the third was found with marks of a body wrap,” Sars said.
“All three passengers and goods were handed over to the South African police for further investigation.”