On Friday, 9 March, OR Tambo International Airport issued a statement, announcing that security officers at the airport arrested a man on Thursday evening, about to board an international flight with a shipment of more than 5kg of heroin.
While at the checkpoint, the bag of a Polish national due to board a flight to Dubai was deemed to be suspicious. After the security officers cut open the bag and found concealment, a South African Police Service (SAPS) dog detected the drugs.
It was later confirmed that the concealment was heroin with a weight of 5.2 kg and an estimated street value of R1 million. The passenger was arrested by SAPS.
“This security team has had notable successes in recent months,” says Leigh Gunkel-Keuler, who is the airport’s spokesperson. “The officers involved in this incident included several who were involved in finding cocaine in the underwear of a Seychelles-bound passenger last November.”
She added that the airport security remains committed “to continue doing everything possible to intercept drug couriers.”
