Police have seized cocaine with an estimated street value of more than R200 million at OR Tambo International Airport following an operation by a multidisciplinary team that intercepted two separate consignments.
Police said that, in the first incident, two large travel suitcases were intercepted at the airport terminal. Upon opening them, officers discovered blocks of suspected cocaine weighing approximately 84 kilograms.
In a separate interception at the cargo section, four boxes containing approximately 250 kilograms of suspected cocaine, packed into 220 blocks, were seized.
No arrests have been made at this stage, and investigations are underway to identify and apprehend those responsible for the alleged importation and distribution of the drugs.
Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane commended police officers for the seizure.
“The vigilance of our members at this strategic port of entry ought to be commended. On a monthly basis, we continue to intercept large quantities of drugs and disrupt the activities of drug mules.
“These successes send a strong message that we will not allow South Africa to be used as a transit point or market for illicit drugs. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to detect, intercept and dismantle drug-trafficking networks,” said Dimpane.
