Fourteen drug mules have been arrested at OR Tambo International Airport in just two weeks, marking a significant increase in drug trafficking activity at South Africa’s busiest airport.
The latest arrest occurred on Sunday, October 6, when a 43-year-old Paraguayan man, arriving from São Paulo, Brazil, was found carrying an estimated 20 cocaine bullets. After experiencing health complications, the suspect was taken to the hospital, where he released 117 cocaine pellets, temporarily delaying his detainment.
This arrest comes just a week after a 21-year-old South African woman was apprehended at the same airport, also arriving from São Paulo. She was found with 110 cocaine bullets – the largest haul of its kind in the past eight years, according to the South African Police Service (SAPS).
In both cases, the suspects were identified before departure and arrested upon arrival in South Africa. Over the past two weeks, a total of 12 more drug mules have been caught, leading to an unprecedented spike in drug busts at OR Tambo International.
The surge has raised questions about whether South Africa is becoming a hub for drug cartels or if heightened border control measures are leading to more detections. Lieutenant-Colonel Amanda van Wyk, reporting from the scene on Sunday, stated: “The drug mule had arrived from São Paulo when he was arrested by police officials at the airport. A medical examination confirmed he had ingested multiple foreign objects, and so far, he has released over 20 cocaine bullets.”
In addition to the Paraguayan suspect, two Dutch traffickers were arrested in the past week, found with 80kg of khat. Both suspects, aged 21 and 59, were intercepted at the airport while attempting to board flights to the Netherlands via Dubai.
The arrests come as part of a broader effort by SAPS to clamp down on drug trafficking through OR Tambo International Airport. According to police, at least one drug mule has been apprehended each week for the past month, highlighting the growing challenge of controlling drug smuggling through the airport.
