Coke worth R7m seized at OR Tambo

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File photo

Published Jul 7, 2015

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Johannesburg - Custom officials seized cocaine worth an estimated R7 million at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, the SA Revenue Services said on Tuesday.

The luggage containing the drugs was discovered on Monday and was destined for London’s Heathrow Airport from South Africa, Sars spokesman Luther Lebelo said.

“The luggage and all its contents were inspected after the airline failed to locate the owner of the bag,” Lebelo said.

“During the compulsory inspection, Sars customs officials discovered 19 compressed blocks wrapped in a brown tape, and seven plastic bags containing a cream coloured substance. A drug test was administered on the substance and it tested positive for cocaine.”

Lebelo said they suspected the cocaine originally came from South America.

“It is suspected that such shipments are brought into South Africa by one passenger then handed over to another passenger on an onward flight to Europe or Africa,” said Lebelo.

“The narcotics were handed over to police for further investigation.”

The drug seizure followed the discovery of 40 000 Viagra tablets a few hours earlier on Monday by customs officials conducting an inspection at the Johannesburg International Mail Centre, Lebelo said.

The Viagra tablets, which were packed in two boxes, were sent from Hong Kong and had a declaration on them that the contents consisted of toys.

“According to the declaration on the two boxes, the goods were falsely declared as plastic toys,” Lebelo said.

“Both incidents are significant seizures by Sars Customs who implement daily inspections in an effort to foil the smuggling of goods.”

ANA

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