52-year-old South African arrested with suspected heroin after arriving from Accra

A 52-year-old South African man was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport with suspected heroin after arriving from Accra, Ghana. The arrest occurred on Sunday, September 20, during an intelligence-led operation by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Border Management Authority (BMA). The suspect had just landed from a flight when he was intercepted at the airport.

Police reportedly found bullet-shaped objects and blocks containing substances suspected to be heroin in his luggage. The estimated street value of the drugs is more than R2 million. This marks the third arrest of suspected drug mules at OR Tambo International Airport in the past three weeks as authorities intensify their efforts against drug trafficking.

The suspect is set to face drug trafficking charges and will appear before Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court later this week. SAPS is continuing investigations to determine the source of the drugs and if the suspect is linked to a larger trafficking network. Authorities have pledged to maintain targeted operations to disrupt drug trafficking syndicates.

This follows multiple incidents of reported drug shipments from Ghana, leading to the creation of a task force by the presidency to investigate those cases after some suspects were arrested.