NARCOTICS worth R16 million were seized at OR Tambo International Airport in three different busts at the weekend.
The massive haul confiscated by SARS began on Friday evening when the customs team identified a male passenger for further checks while he was disembarking from a flight from Cotonou in Benin.
According to SARS spokesman, Marika Muller, the passenger had checked in three pieces of luggage, bags each holding a large plastic “jerry can”.
“These cans were found to contain small packets of liquid ecstasy totalling 30 litres with a value of R9 million,” said Muller.
“This route has been used regularly in the last few months, in both directions and customs and other teams at OR Tambo have been monitoring passengers closely as a result,” she added.
On Sunday, the team identified an SAA flight landing in Johannesburg from Sao Paulo for passenger checks and a man, enroute to Lagos in Nigeria was taken aside.
Muller said the passenger initially denied having any luggage, even though his ticket indicated he had checked in one bag. When the bag was traced, it was found to contain 6.7kg cocaine, hidden in jam tins, with a value of R1.7 million,” said Muller.
A woman, waiting for a connecting flight, was found to have concealed 6.8kg cocaine in handbags in her luggage.
“The passenger was identified and prevented from boarding her connecting flight. The cocaine had a value of R4.8 million.
“All these individuals and the narcotics they were carrying have been handed over to the police for further action,” Muller concluded.
