Drug Trafficker Arrested At OR Tambo Airport With R1.4 Million Cocaine Wrapped Around His Legs

A 39-year-old Brazilian drug trafficker was arrested on Friday morning after attempting to smuggle cocaine worth R1.4 million into South Africa.

The suspect arrived at OR Tambo International Airport from São Paulo, Brazil, and was in transit to Benin when he was intercepted by vigilant police officers.

At 09:00, the man was pulled aside for a routine body search. To the surprise of authorities, cocaine was found carefully wrapped around his legs, concealed beneath his clothing.

The trafficker was promptly arrested and is now facing serious charges of drug trafficking. He is expected to appear before the Kempton Park Magistrates Court soon.

A Surge in Efforts to Combat Drug Trafficking

This arrest is part of an ongoing crackdown by the South African Police Service (SAPS) on the illicit drug trade. The SAPS has made significant strides in apprehending drug traffickers, particularly at OR Tambo International Airport, which remains a key entry point for narcotics smuggling into the country.

From January to March 2025, SAPS reported impressive results in their fight against drug-related crimes:

• 23,306 suspects arrested for possession of drugs, many of whom were drug traffickers attempting to bring drugs into the country, often via dangerous methods like swallowing packets of narcotics.
• 3,471 suspects arrested for dealing in drugs, including six Mozambican nationals and three South Africans involved in a major drug operation in Standerton, Mpumalanga. This operation uncovered a secret drug laboratory, leading to the seizure of R27 million worth of drugs, high-performance vehicles, machinery, and R3 million in cash from a Mercedes-Benz.

Massive Drug Destruction Operations and Successes

On March 7, 2025, a significant drug destruction operation took place in the Western Cape, where drugs worth R340 million were destroyed. This operation is part of a broader strategy to remove seized narcotics from circulation permanently.

Over the past three years, SAPS has successfully destroyed R5.2 billion worth of drugs, marking a major milestone in the ongoing battle against the drug trade.

“We continue to ramp up our efforts to eradicate drug trafficking, dismantle drug labs, and destroy illicit substances to safeguard our communities from the devastating effects of drugs,” said a SAPS spokesperson.

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