A joint operation involving Airport Company South Africa staff, SARS Customs and the police led to the discovery of cocaine worth millions at the OR Tambo International Airport on Friday morning.

 
A joint operation involving ACSA staff,SARS Customs & SAPS has led to the discovery of R25 million worth of cocaine at the OR TAMBO International Airport. The cocaine was found in an unaccompanied bag on a carousel for a flight from São Paulo. No arrests, investigations underway pic.twitter.com/a8owAzq9HA
— Athlenda Mathe (@AthlendaM) October 11, 2024
 

THE DRUGS WERE HEADING TO DRC

In a statement, SARS said their customs officers uncovered 47 bricks of compressed cocaine, with an estimated street value of R25 million. "The cocaine bricks that weighed about 50 kg were packed into a luggage bag that was spotted by customs officers and airport security on Friday morning on a carousel for a flight from Sao Paolo in Brazil and heading to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo," SARS said in a statement. According to SARS, customs officers inspected the luggage bag and saw suspicious looking objects in the bag. "The objects tested positive for narcotics. There were no passengers accompanying the bag, and no arrests were made. The South African Police Service will now investigate the matter after everything was handed over to them." SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter warned those involved in drug trafficking that an inter-agency approach is being implemented to bring them to book. "This multi-disciplinary approach is having palpable results, demonstrated by arrests and interceptions recently. Through these actions, we are protecting the wellbeing of our citizens, especially young people who are our future,' Kieswetter said. 

NO ARRESTS YET

Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that the police are investigating the matter. "There were no passengers accompanying the bag and no arrests were made. "No arrests have been made yet. Investigations are underway," Mathe said. According to SARS, Sao Paolo in Brazil is a high-risk departure point for drug mules, with accompanied as well as unaccompanied luggage containing cocaine. In the past few weeks, there have been several busts of drug mules at OR Tambo airport, with most mules having swallowed cocaine tablets that they have had to release under police guard.