21-year-old drug mule arrested at OR Tambo airport

A 21-year-old South African woman was arrested at the OR Tambo International Airport, for alleged drug trafficking, after drugs were found in her stomach. This is the eleventh drug mule to be arrested at ORTIA in a period of two months. According to the police, the woman was profiled and intercepted as she was arriving on a flight from São Paulo, Brazil on Sunday morning, just before 9am. “She was taken to a local hospital where an X-ray confirmed that she was having foreign objects in her stomach. She has already released a number of bullets from her body and is in police custody where police are closely monitoring the release of further drug bullets. This process is still unfolding,” said police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe.Mathe said the arrest came after a joint operation between the police and the South African Revenue Services (SARS) Customs at the airport. This is the 11th suspected drug mule to be arrested at the airport in two months. Last week, a 30-year-old Namibian drug mule was arrested after arriving from São Paulo.She was also taken for medical examination, released more than 60 drug bullets, and has already appeared at the Kempton Park Magistrates Court on a charge of dealing in drugs. Meanwhile, National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola has commended the vigilance of members of SARS and the police at the airport. “Our men and women in blue working closely with SARS customs and various stakeholders continue to assert the authority of the state at all our ports of entry. We appreciate the hard work and dedication of our members and urge them to do more to squeeze the space for criminals. Drug traffickers are feeling the heat and there is nowhere to hide,” said Masemola.