A 43-year-old Paraguayan man arrested at OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng has expelled over 100 capsules believed to contain cocaine. The arrest was part of ongoing efforts by South African police to combat drug trafficking.
According to IOL, police apprehended the man, who is suspected of swallowing multiple drug-filled capsules, after arriving from São Paulo.
This makes him the 14th person arrested in recent weeks as part of the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) intensified crackdown on drug mules.
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In an update, Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili, deputy national police commissioner, confirmed that the suspect had so far released 117 capsules.
However, the extraction process was complicated by health concerns, as the man began bleeding during the procedure. He was subsequently rushed to the hospital for urgent medical attention.
Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, Mosikili warned of the life-threatening risks involved in drug smuggling, particularly when the capsules are ingested. “If the drugs are swallowed and one bursts in the stomach, it could result in instant death,” she said.
The recent arrest is part of a broader operation targeting drug mules. Last week, three additional suspects, including two Dutch nationals transporting 80 kilograms of Khat, were also arrested at the same airport. Among other notable cases, a 21-year-old South African woman was recently arrested after swallowing over 110 cocaine-filled capsules, and a Namibian man was caught with 68 capsules.
Mosikili emphasized that despite the financial allure, the dangers of drug smuggling far outweigh the potential rewards, stressing that the practice poses serious medical risks and could be fatal.
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