A woman recently departed from South Africa under the guise of shopping for her upcoming wedding, only to find herself in hot water after being apprehended at OR Tambo International Airport.
The arrest took place on a Tuesday morning according to Captain Lloyd Ramovha, the Gauteng provincial spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks.
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According to Captain Ramovha, the Germiston-based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Team pounced on the unsuspecting 33-year-old traveler at OR Tambo International Airport.
A search of her luggage revealed a consignment of narcotics, which was established to be 10 kilogrammes of cocaine. The law enforcement team, accompanied by customs officials and dogs, further scanned the surroundings for possible aides and accomplices.
While scanning the international arrivals hall of the airport, two suspects were identified and monitored. “They were approached and brought in for questioning at the police station.
They stated that they were waiting for a traveler from elsewhere but could not provide proof thereof,” said Captain Ramovha. It was eventually established that these individuals were actually waiting for the arrested drug mule originating from Motherwell in Port Elizabeth.
The two accomplices, identified as Nigerian nationals aged 37 and 52, were also arrested. The trio is now scheduled to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, August 29, 2024. This arrest highlights the ongoing efforts of the Hawks to combat serious organized crime and underscores the importance of vigilance in airport security.
