Police at the OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park have arrested another alleged drug mule who landed in South Africa from São Paulo, Brazil.
National police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the 21-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday afternoon.
“SAPS safer festive season operations are in full swing across the country and criminals in every corner are feeling the heat. At the OR Tambo International Airport, another drug trafficker from São Paulo was arrested on Tuesday afternoon,” said Mathe.
“SAPS crime intelligence was following up on information when the 21-year-old man was intercepted after landing from Brazil just after 12:20.”
Mathe said the drug mule was taken to a local hospital where a medical x-ray confirmed the presence of foreign objects in his stomach.
In an update on Tuesday night, Mathe said the process to release these foreign objects from the man’s stomach has started.
“The SAPS can confirm that plastic-covered cocaine bullets are being released by the suspect,” said Mathe.
The arrested 21-year-old man is scheduled to appear before the Kempton Park Magistrates Court on a charge of drug possession and trafficking this week.
“Police at OR TAMBO International Airport remain vigilant as police countrywide intensify their safer festive operations,” said Mathe.
Last week, IOL reported that a 44-year-old female Brazilian drug mule was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport after landing from Sao Paulo on Thursday.
The 44-year-old woman was the second suspect from Brazil to be arrested with cocaine last week.
At the time, Mathe said the 44-year-old woman was also found with cocaine worth R1.9 million wrapped around her upper body.
Mathe said the woman faces a charge of drug trafficking and will appear before the Kempton Park Magistrate soon.
On November 24, a 24-year-old Brazilian male drug trafficker was arrested after he was found with more than three kilograms of drugs wrapped around his body.
The man had landed at the busy OR Tambo airport from Sao Paulo.
Police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk said the drugs were later confirmed to be cocaine with an estimated value of R1.8 million.
IOL