On Wednesday, 14 February, a suspected drug courier was arrested at O.R. Tambo International Airport.
According to a statement by the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA), a passenger bound for the Seychelles aroused the suspicion of airport security officers, which led to the Seychellois national being searched, and during the search officers found two packets of suspicious white powder, suspected of being cocaine.
South African Police Service (SAPS) officers based at the airport were called in, and the passenger’s bags were also scanned and further searched by both airport and SAPS officers, but no additional illegal substances were found.
The suspect was then escorted to the police station at the airport, and is expected to appear in front of a court of law shortly.
Leigh Gunkel-Keuler, who is the airport’s spokesperson, congratulated airport security officers for their professionalism, adding the airport remains “committed to the continuing work being done across all government agencies based at this airport to curb all forms of crime and corruption. This effort continues to operate under the banner of the Integrated Multi-Disciplinary Tactical Security Plan which was launched on 21 July 2017 by the Hon. Minister of Police, Fikile Mbalula.”
The two packets contained white powder believed to be cocaine with an estimated street value of R140 000.
