Police have arrested a Nigerian drug mule at the OR Tambo International Airport, after they discovered cocaine hidden in a pair of airline headphones.
According to the police, the suspect had just landed from São Paulo and was about to board a connecting to Nigeria.
The police then became suspicious when the suspect handed over airline headphones to a cleaner at the airport.
Police were working closely with airport security, Border Management Authority, customs officials and Airports Company South Africa staff effected the arrest, and found 450 grams of cocaine stashed in the headphones.
“The drug mule who claims he is a street vendor in Nigeria claims he was in Brazil to buy clothes and shoes which he sells in his home country.
Police are investigating this aspect, to prove that this may be used as a decoy by this drug trafficker.
The cleaner, who noticed that police were hot on his heels, evaded arrested.
Police have since launched a manhunt for him,” said police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe.
According to the police, more than R13 million worth of drugs including R12 million worth of cocaine has been seized at the airport in the past two months.
Nine drug traffickers/mules have been arrested during this same period, and all the suspects were arrested in the possession of these drugs.
Meanwhile, national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola has reiterated his stance that South Africa is not a playground for criminals and that any anyone who finds themselves on the wrong side of the law will be sniffed out from any corner of this country and made to answer to crimes committed.
