R16m in drugs seized at OR Tambo

Cocaine concealed in handbags was found in the luggage of a passenger on a SAA flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil to OR Tambo International. Picture: African News Agency

Cocaine concealed in handbags was found in the luggage of a passenger on a SAA flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil to OR Tambo International. Picture: African News Agency

Published Mar 2, 2015

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Pretoria - The South African Revenue Services (SARS) made drugs seizures of R16 million at OR Tambo International Airport at the weekend.

SARS spokesperson Marika Muller said: “On the evening of Friday 27 February the SARS Customs team identified a male passenger for further checks while he was disembarking from a flight originating in Cotonou, Benin. He had checked in three pieces of luggage bags, each holding a large plastic “jerry can”. These cans were found to contain small packets of liquid ecstasy totalling 30 litres, with a value of nine million rand.”

Muller said the route had been used regularly by drug mules in the past few months (in both directions) and Customs and other teams at OR Tambo had been monitoring passengers closely as a result.

Then on Sunday March 1, an SAA flight landing in Johannesburg from Sao Paulo was identified as needing passenger checks.

“A male passenger from this flight, in transit to Lagos, was taken aside immediately after disembarkation for checks. Although he initially denied having any luggage, his ticket indicated he had checked in one bag. When that was retrieved by Customs, it was found to contain 6.7kg cocaine - hidden in jam tins - with a value of R1.7 million.

“A second passenger, a female, had a very short connection time with a flight to Kinshasa. When her check-in luggage was examined, over 16.8kg cocaine was found concealed in handbags. The passenger was then identified and prevented from boarding her connecting flight. The cocaine had a value of R4.8 million,” Muller added.

The individuals and the drugs they were carrying have been handed over to the SAPS for further action.

ANA

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