Police at OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park have arrested another suspected drug trafficker arriving from São Paulo, Brazil.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that the 21-year-old man was detained on Tuesday afternoon during ongoing festive season operations aimed at tackling crime across the country. Mathe explained that SAPS crime intelligence had been monitoring information when the man was intercepted after arriving just after 12:20 PM.
The suspect was taken to a nearby hospital, where an X-ray revealed foreign objects in his stomach. According to Mathe, the process to remove the objects, which were plastic-covered cocaine packets, has begun.
The 21-year-old is expected to face charges of drug possession and trafficking at the Kempton Park Magistrates Court later this week.
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Mathe emphasized that police remain vigilant at OR Tambo International Airport as part of the nationwide efforts to curb crime during the festive season.
This arrest follows the capture of other drug mules earlier, including a 44-year-old woman from Brazil last week, who was found with cocaine worth R1.9 million wrapped around her body. Another Brazilian male, arrested on November 24, was caught with over three kilograms of cocaine valued at R1.8 million.
