Drug trafficker arrested with R1.4 Million cocaine wrapped around his legs at OR Tambo International Airport

 A 39-year-old drug trafficker was arrested on arrival from São Paulo at the OR Tambo International Airport on Friday morning.

The Brazilian national landed at 09:00 from São Paulo and was in transit to Benin when he was intercepted by police officers at the Airport.

He was pulled aside and during a body search, cocaine was found wrapped around his legs.

He has been arrested and is expected to appear before the Kempton Park Magistrates Court on a charge of drug trafficking.

Today, the SAPS reported that police officers are intensifying their efforts to clamp down on the illicit trade of drugs. The following successes were reported from January 2025 to March 2025:

•  23 306 suspects were arrested for being in possession of drugs and these include drug traffickers that continue to be apprehended at the OR Tambo International Airport. Most of these drug traffickers are coming into the country from Brazil and are found to have swallowed these drugs. Through targeted intelligence operations, we have been able to intercept more than 20 drug traffickers in the last six months at this port of entry.
•  A total of 3471 suspects were arrested for dealing in drugs: these include six Mozambicans and three South Africans that were arrested in Standerton, Mpumalanga after police dismantled a clandestine drug laboratory in that area. Drugs, high performance vehicles and machinery all to the tune of R27 million were confiscated in this operation including R3 million in cash that was found in the boot of a Mercedes benz. During this same period, a clandestine drug laboratory was also shut down in Westonaria, in Gauteng. In this operation, two suspects were arrested.
•  On the 7th of March 2025, I led drug destruction operation in the Western Cape where drugs worth 340 million rand were destroyed. The SAPS destroys drugs that are seized from various operations on a regular basis to ensure we permanently remove drugs from circulation and in the past three years, its pleasing to note that R5.2 billion worth of drugs have been destroyed.