SARS customs officers have seized 23kg drugs disguised as molded artwork with an estimated street value of R37 million at the cargo sheds of the OR Tambo International Airport. It is alleged that the customs officers were doing their inspection rounds when they came across a box headed for New Zealand.

SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter said that the box contained items of molded artwork, which looked suspicious. "The officers used a narcotics test kit and some of the items tested positive for crystal meth, which weighed 10kg. The narcotics were handed over the SAPS for further investigation," Kieswetter said.

Kieswetter said that customs officers will continue being vigilant after they detected the narcotics. "SARS Customs will spare no effort in stopping the export or import of narcotics and any illegal substance which cause so much pain and hardship for families, particularly their youth. Drug smugglers must know that our Customs Division is fully committed to this objective and will act without fear or favour against those criminals involved in the drugs trade. They must know that they will face the full might of the law," Kieswetter said. This is the third biggest drug bust at OR Tambo after the two were made in Durban's King Shaka Airport where drugs were discover in containers that were coming from Brazil disguised in imported chickens.