A suspected female Namibian drug mule has been apprehended at the OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park, South Africa after she landed with suspected cocaine in her body.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) said the 30-year-old was arrested on Sunday, September 22, 2024, is the tenth drug mule to be arrested at the busy Gauteng airport in the past two months.
National police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said SAPS, the SA Revenue Service customs and immigration officials were following up on intelligence from SAPS of a drug mule that would land from Sao Paulo, Brazil at around 7am.
“The team immediately intercepted the drug mule as she was making her way through immigration. She was immediately arrested, and taken to a local hospital where a medical X-ray confirmed and detected foreign objects in her stomach,” said Mathe.
On Sunday evening, Mathe said the process to release the suspected drugs from her body was underway.
“She has already released more than 60 bullets of suspected cocaine thus far. She is currently under police guard and custody,” said Mathe.
“The value of the drugs cannot be determined at this stage as the process to release all suspected drugs from the suspect’s body may take some time,” she said.
Meanwhile, the National commissioner of SAPS, General Fannie Masemola has applauded the vigilance of the multi-disciplinary team working tirelessly to clamp down on criminality at the OR Tambo International Airport.
“Our men and women in blue are hard at work intercepting hardened criminals. South Africa is not a playground for criminals and transnational organised crime. We are squeezing the space for criminals and leaving nothing to chance,” said Masemola.
