Cocaine
SAPS disclosed on Sunday that the officers tracked a certain container to the Dube Trade Port, which had 228 blocks of cocaine concealed in meat boxes. It said that the incident took place Friday and that it was the "second drug bust" in the last two days. AFP

South African Revenue Service (SARS) customs officials on Sunday seized a massive quantity of cocaine at OR Tambo International Airport, with a street value of about R25 million.

According to SARS, the 47 bricks of cocaine, weighing around 50kg, were found in a bag that officials and airport security noticed on a carousel. The bag was for a flight coming from Sao Paulo in Brazil and heading to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"SARS Customs officers inspected the luggage bag and saw suspicious-looking objects in the bag. These objects tested positive for narcotics. There were no passengers accompanying the bag and no arrests were made," the revenue service said, SA News reported.

It added, "The South African Police Service (SAPS) will now investigate the matter after everything was handed over to them. Sao Paolo in Brazil is a high-risk departure point for drug mules and accompanied and unaccompanied luggage containing cocaine."

The service pointed out that there have been several busts of drug mules at OR Tambo airport in recent weeks.

The SARS Commissioner warned that the revenue service is working with the Border Management Authority, the Airports Company, SAPS and the Department of Home Affairs to combat illegal activities.

This teamwork is showing clear results, as seen in recent arrests and seizures. The commissioner said that these efforts are aimed at protecting the well-being of citizens, particularly young people, who represent the future.

Earlier this year, Customs officials at OR Tambo International Airport seized R37 million worth of drugs, including crystal meth and fentanyl, disguised as molded artwork.

Kieswetter, at that time, said in a statement that customs officers came across a cargo that was supposed to reach New Zealand. During the inspection, they found drugs in the box.

The criminals used molded artwork to disguise drugs, but the customs authorities' narcotics test kit helped to find crystal meth, which weighed 10 kilograms. Fentanyl, on the other hand, weighed 13 kilograms.

In October last year, the South African Police Service (SAPS) seized R80 million worth of cocaine at the Dube Trade Port after tracking several containers coming to Durban Harbor from Brazil. In a separate incident, the South African police caught a ship in Durban with 378 kilograms of cocaine worth R1.3 billion.

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