An alleged drug mule who had just landed at OR Tambo International from Sao Paulo connecting to Nigeria was arrested at the airport last night.

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said that after landing, the 44-year-old Nigerian mule met with a cleaner at the airport and handed him airline headphones. "Suspecting that there was something amiss, the Border Management Authority team opened the aircraft headphones and found cocaine stashed in the headphones," Mathe said.

DECOY

Mathe said the drug mule claimed that he is a street vendor in Nigeria and was in Brazil to buy clothes and shoes, which he sells in his home country. "Police are investigating this aspect in order to prove that his alleged business may be used as a decoy by this drug trafficker. The cleaner, who noticed that police were hot on his heels, evaded arrest and police have since launched a manhunt for him," said Mathe.

NO PLAYGROUND

 The National Commissioner of SAPS General Fannie Masemola reiterated his stance in saying South Africa is not a playground for criminals and that any anyone who finds themselves on the wrong side of the law will be sniffed out from any corner of this country and made to answer to crimes committed. "In the past two months, more than R13 million worth of drugs including R12 million worth of cocaine has been seized at OR Tambo AiAirport. Nine drug mules have been arrested during this same period and all suspects were arrested in the possession of these drugs," Masemola added.