OR Tambo drug bust: 250kg cocaine worth R200m seized in major crackdown

South African law enforcement agencies have dismantled a major drug trafficking operation, seizing 250kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of over R200 million at OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday, 25 September 2026. The arrest of five luggage bags containing 216 blocks of cocaine was made by a multidisciplinary team from the South African Police Service (Saps), South African Revenue Service (SARS), and Border Management Authority (BMA).

Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, a police spokesperson, praised the team's diligent work, emphasizing that the successful seizure demonstrates the effectiveness of coordinated law enforcement efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks. Over the past two years, 116 drug mules have been apprehended at OR Tambo International Airport, underscoring the sustained efforts of law enforcement agencies to detect and prevent the transportation of illicit drugs through the country's busiest international gateway.

The Saps reiterated their commitment to working with SARS, BMA, and other partners to strengthen border security, disrupt organized criminal networks, and bring those involved in the illicit drug trade to justice. The recent wave of drug mule arrests has sparked discussions about South Africa's role as a key transit point for international drug syndicates, with Police Minister Firoz Cachalia warning that Southern Africa could become a major hub for illicit drug production as powerful crime networks tighten their grip on the region.