Drug smuggling attempt foiled at Johannesburg airport

A 30-year-old Namibian woman was recently arrested at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, one of South Africa’s busiest airports, on suspicion of drug smuggling. The arrest came after a tip-off that the woman was allegedly trying to smuggle drugs from Sao Paulo, Brazil. This is the tenth arrest at the airport in the past two months.

After her arrest, the woman was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. An x-ray revealed that there were numerous foreign objects in her stomach, presumably cocaine pellets. Under police surveillance, the woman eventually managed to expel 68 of these pellets, weighing a total of approximately 850 grams.

This incident underscores the continued efforts of South African law enforcement to tackle drug trafficking and other forms of organised crime. “Our men and women in blue are hard at work catching hardened criminals. South Africa is not a playground for criminals and transnational organised crime. We squeeze the space for criminals and leave nothing to chance,” said General Fannie Masemola, the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service.

The woman, whose identity has not been released, is due to appear in court on September 25, accused of drug trafficking and drug possession. The case is a stark reminder of the authorities’ tireless efforts to curb drug trafficking and ensure the country’s safety and security.