Police nab second drug mule in four days at OR Tambo Airport
The suspect was en route to Hong Kong, China, when police arrested him.
On 07 September 2026, South African police apprehended a 45-year-old individual at OR Tambo International Airport, seizing two kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of over R800,000. The suspect was intercepted following intelligence-led information and was en route to Hong Kong, China. A subsequent search of his luggage yielded the drugs, believed to be cocaine.
Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk of the police's drug trafficking unit stated that this marks the second drug mule arrest in four days. The first arrest occurred on 03 September 2026, of a 54-year-old suspect, also en route to Hong Kong, where he was caught with cocaine concealed in his luggage. Van Wyk emphasized that these successive successes at South Africa's busiest airport underscore the SAPS's ongoing commitment to disrupting and dismantling drug trafficking networks through intelligence-driven operations at the country's ports of entry.
Last month, a significant drug haul worth millions of rand was intercepted at the same airport, with the SAPS seizing cocaine packed in two consignments – suitcases and cargo boxes – totaling approximately 334 kilograms. No arrests were made in connection with the August 26 seizure. The recent wave of drug mule arrests at OR Tambo International Airport has reignited discussions about South Africa's position as a crucial transit point for international drug syndicates.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
