The South African Police Service National Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola has applauded the multidisciplinary team working at OR Tambo International Airport, this comes after the latest drug bust of a Nigerian mule who was arrested on Friday 13th September 2024.
The mule who had just arrived from Sao Paulo and waiting for a connecting flight to Nigeria was spotted by the SAPS who were working closely with the airport security, BMA, custom officials and the ACSA staff, after he met with the airport cleaner who gave the mule airline headphones that had hidden cocaine in it.
The drug mule who claims he is a street vendor in Nigeria claims he was in Brazil to buy clothes and shoes which he sells in his home country – police are investigating this aspect – to prove that this may be used as a decoy by this drug trafficker.
Police has launched a manhunt for the cleaner who was able to escape after realizing the SAPS officials were onto him.
In the past two months, more than R13 million worth of drugs including R12 million worth of cocaine has been seized at OR Tambo Airport, 9 Drug traffickers/ Drug mules have been arrested during this same period. All suspects were arrested in the possession of these drugs.
According to Masemola the arrests being made at the airport should serve as a warning to drug traffickers and he further added that South Africa is not a playground for criminals and all those who do not uphold the law will answer for their crimes committed.
