Frenzy as ‘SA actress’ allegedly held for 15kg drugs
JOHANNESBURG: Twitter was sent into an investigative frenzy when it was announced that a South African actress had been arrested on Sunday, allegedly with drugs worth R4.6 million.
The SA Revenue Service (Sars) said yesterday: “Sars customs officials at OR Tambo International Airport discovered 15.4kg of ephedrine (crystal meth) in the bag of a passenger who had arrived from Abu Dhabi.”
The woman was stopped so her bag could be scanned, but after a suspicious image showed up they searched further and allegedly found the drugs hidden between clothes.
Sars spokesperson Luther Lebelo said officials discovered 15 parcels wrapped in carbon or foil-like material hidden in the luggage. Immediate tests confirmed that the substance was ephedrine, which is the main ingredient in crystal meth. “The narcotics and passenger, identified as a South African actress, were detained and handed over to SAPS for further investigation,” the statement said.
This launched a game of “whodunit” on Twitter, leading to the #guesstheactress topic trending.
@ComicalTshepo tweeted: “Check instagram… see who posted from the UAE in the past few days #GuessTheActress.”
Local actresses also got in on the fun. Scandal actress Masasa Mbangeni tweeted: “I have reported myself to black twitter and handed my passport and still I am being asked if I am OK #GuessTheActress.”
The police then tweeted: “The woman, 29, has been charged with dealing in drugs. Contrary to public belief, the arrested woman is NOT an SA celebrity.”
Lebelo said the passenger was detained and subsequently handed over to the SAPS organised crime department for further investigation.
SAPS spokesperson Vishnu Naidoo said the accused would appear in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court today.