Three Drug Traffickers Arrested in One Week at or Tambo International Airport

Suspect found with drugs at OR Tambo photo supplied

By Lt Col Amanda van Wyk
SAPS spokesperson

OR Tambo International Airport, 12 June 2025; Within a span of a week, members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) arrested three suspects for drug trafficking at OR Tambo International Airport.

On 5 June 2025, a 42-year-old Nigerian national was arrested upon arrival from São Paulo, en route to Nigeria.

The drug trafficker landed at 07:00 when he was intercepted by police officers at the airport.

A medical x-ray confirmed that he had ingested more than 70 drug “bullets” suspected to contain cocaine.

On 10 June 2025, police officers intercepted a second drug trafficker shortly after she landed at 06:15 from São Paulo.

During an inspection of the 30-year-old Brazilian national’s luggage she indicated she had ingested more than 100 cocaine-filled “bullets” which was later confirmed by a medical x-ray.

Later the same day, police intercepted a 57-year-old Ethiopian national at the airport’s check-in counter before he could board a flight out of the country.

A search of the suspect’s luggage uncovered over 90 kilograms of Khat.

All three suspects were arrested and expected to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court on charges of drug trafficking.

Through targeted intelligence-driven operations, SAPS has intercepted more than 23 drug traffickers at this port of entry in the past six months.