Three drug mules nabbed at ORTIA yesterday

During an integrated multi-disciplinary operation this morning three drug mules, two men and a woman were arrested at the O. R. Tambo International Airport (ORTIA).
In the first incident, members from the South African Police Service, South African Revenue Services, ACSA and ORTIA Security acted on intelligence and intercepted a man and a woman at approximately 09:30am today as they arrived from South America. The woman was carrying over 21 kilograms of a substance suspected to be cocaine in her check-in luggage and the man, over four (4) kilograms, also of a substance suspected to be cocaine which she had strapped around her waist and chest.
Meanwhile this was happening, the Hawks acted on information and intercepted a 49-year-old Brakpan man at approximately 11am at ORTIA just as he was about to depart to Hong Kong on the 11:30am flight. The man was found with over five (5) kilograms of cocaine which was also strapped around his waist and chest.
This is the second time in less than a month that an alleged drug mule travelling to Hong Kong with cocaine is intercepted at ORTIA. On 12 January this year Fiona Kruger was intercepted and arrested at the airport after she was also found in possession of cocaine.
In fact since 1 January 2019 to date the joint team secured an average of 20 drug busts per month including parcels coming through Mail Centre, via courier companies as well as an average of one drug mule per week arrested at ORTIA alone.
These drug successes is an indication of the capacity and capabilities the joint security forces have to decisively deal with the numerous attempts to use ORTIA as a thoroughfare for drug smuggling. This clearly negates recent media reports that “drug smugglers pass through O R Tambo International Airport undetected”. It is also important to note that neither the SAPS nor any other department that forms part of the joint operational team at ORTIA has been contacted for comment or confirmation in those recent media reports.
The three suspects arrested today will be charged with dealing in drugs and they are expected to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrates Court on Monday, 10 February 2020.
We continue to appeal to anyone with information to contact the SAPS Crime Stop number 086 00 10111 or information can be channelled through the MySAPSApp. All information will be treated with strictest confidence and callers may remain anonymous.