Three suspects held at airport for dealing in drugs
Three people have been arrested in separate incidents at OR Tambo International Airport for dealing in drugs.
Two of them, a 37-year-old man and a woman aged 27‚ are employees at the airport‚ according to police spokesman Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo.
He said on Friday‚ at the general aviation section of the airport‚ police had searched the hand luggage that belonged to the man and the woman.
“That is when they discovered cocaine that weighs 18.3kg with the estimated street value of R5.2-million. It was further discovered that the two are employees at the airport,” Naidoo said.
“Later in the day, an operation conducted by the police and customs officials yielded positive results when they intercepted a consignment of ephedrine at the Swiss port.
“The drugs were found concealed in vehicle oil filters packed inside containers. Six big forensic bags were used to take them to the laboratory for weighing. A 43-year-old man was arrested for dealing in drugs.”
Naidoo added that the suspects would appear in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court soon.
“These successes are a culmination of efforts that form part of the new revised strategy that has recently been implemented at the OR Tambo International Airport under the leadership of MajorGeneral Dimakatso Ndaba, which involves the South African Police Service’s crime intelligence‚ directorate for priority crimes investigation‚ Airports Company South Africa‚ OR Tambo International Airport‚ state security agency and other role players‚” said Naidoo.
Meanwhile, a total of 197 arrests were executed relating to drugs during disruptive operations in the Bluedowns cluster in Cape Town at the weekend‚ Western Cape police said yesterday.
Police searched 101 houses in the area for drugs‚ confiscating 166 500ml of alcohol‚ mandrax tablets with an approximate street value of R5 680‚ tik with an approximate street value of R4 550 and dagga worth an estimated amount of R1 695.
“35 tracing operations were held and 42 suspects that are wanted were arrested as a result‚” said Captain FC van Wyk.