Over the past few days, four alleged drug and abalone traffickers aged between 21 and 45 years, were arrested at the OR Tambo International Airport.
The multi-disciplinary team that has been operating at the OR Tambo International Airport to prevent and combat crime at this port of entry continues to arrest suspects on various crimes. The Team recovered drugs worth millions as well as abalone with an estimated value of R1.8 million.
The first suspects was intercepted at the check-in counters. The suspect was stopped before she could check-in her luggage which was found to contain boxes of Kellogg’s corn flakes cereal. Sachets containing white powder suspected to be crystal meth were found concealed in the boxes.
Members of the Team at the airport are always on the lookout for suspicious looking people and luggage. On this instance they kept a close eye on one of the passengers, a man who upon realising he was under surveillance he ran off to the basement where he had parked his vehicle. The team pursued him and discovered suspected drugs weighing about 6.62kg with an estimated street value of R1.98 million. The suspect was placed under arrest for possession of suspected drugs.
The third suspect on the other hand was found with suspected cocaine weighing 3.4kg and estimated to be about R940 000 when his luggage was searched. The last suspect was arrested as he arrived into the airport. Preliminary investigation revealed that his name did not appear on the passenger list. He was searched and his luggage was found to be containing 17kg of ephedrine with an estimated street value of R690 000.
In a different incident, the Team acted intercepted a suspicious consignment en-route to Hong Kong. Upon inspecting the consignment, which had been declared as personal effects, 60kg of abalone with an estimated street value of R1.8 million was found.
The suspects have since appeared in court and further investigations are continuing. People may call SAPS Crime Stop number: 0860010111 with information on trafficking of illicit goods. Callers may remain anonymous and all information will be treated with strictest confidence.