A 55-year-old Nigerian national was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday, 4 March 2025, after swallowing multiple cocaine bullets to smuggle the drug into South Africa.
What authorities revealed about the latest drug mule arrested at OR Tambo
According to police, the suspect had arrived on a flight from São Paulo, Brazil—a well-known drug trafficking route—when he was intercepted by law enforcement.
Upon further screening, officers became suspicious and sent him for a medical x-ray, which confirmed that he had ingested multiple foreign objects suspected to be drug-filled pellets.
The suspect was immediately taken into custody and is currently under medical supervision, as authorities monitor the release of the pellets from his system.
Once cleared, he is expected to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court on drug trafficking charges later this week.
This arrest is not an isolated incident.
Just last month, SAPS arrested two South African drug mules attempting to smuggle R7.5 million worth of cocaine through the same airport.
Smugglers are risking everything to traffic drugs from Brazil to South Africa
South Africa has become a key transit point for international drug syndicates, with OR Tambo International Airport frequently used by traffickers.
Brazil, a known cocaine hub, remains a primary departure point for smugglers heading to Africa and beyond.
A 2023 report by Proinde.br highlighted Brazil’s role as a major global transhipment point for cocaine, second only to Colombia.
The report also noted a sharp rise in drug trafficking via shipping containers and aircraft, with South Africa often serving as a stopover for illicit shipments heading to Europe and Asia.
Authorities at OR Tambo have been cracking down on smugglers.
In November 2024, a female Brazilian national was arrested with R1.8 million worth of cocaine wrapped around her body, hidden under a plastic belt.
Just days before, another 25-year-old Brazilian was caught smuggling three kilograms of cocaine strapped to his torso.
Despite these crackdowns, drug syndicates continue to use desperate measures.
Smuggling methods include hiding drugs in luggage, attaching packets to body parts, and swallowing cocaine-filled pellets, which carry severe health risks, including potential overdose or intestinal rupture.
Law enforcement officials have reiterated their commitment to stopping drug trafficking at OR Tambo, warning that South Africa is not a safe haven for drug peddlers.