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A 21-year-old South African woman has been arrested at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) on suspicion of drug trafficking, marking the 11th drug mule apprehended at the airport in the past two months.
The woman was intercepted by authorities on Sunday morning after arriving from São Paulo, Brazil. South African Police Service (SAPS) officials said the woman was profiled and taken to a local hospital, where an X-ray confirmed she had foreign objects in her stomach. She has since begun releasing drug bullets from her body and remains under close police supervision as the process continues.
National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, praised the efforts of the South African Revenue Service (SARS), SAPS, and other stakeholders at the airport. “Our men and women in blue, working closely with SARS customs and various stakeholders, continue to assert the authority of the state at all our ports of entry,” said Masemola. He further emphasized the commitment to combat drug trafficking, stating, “Drug traffickers are feeling the heat, and there is nowhere to hide.”
This arrest follows a string of similar incidents at OR Tambo. On 22 September 2024, a 30-year-old Namibian woman was arrested after also arriving from São Paulo. She released over 60 drug bullets during a medical examination and has since appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court.
On 13 September, another drug mule, a Nigerian national, was arrested for attempting to smuggle cocaine concealed in aircraft headphones. He, too, had arrived from São Paulo and has since appeared in court on charges of dealing in drugs.
The frequent arrests highlight the increasing vigilance and cooperation between SAPS, SARS, immigration, and the Border Management Authority (BMA) in intercepting drug traffickers at OR Tambo International Airport.