A 29-year-old South African woman was arrested in Ethiopia after being caught with 13 kilograms of cocaine, valued at R5.4 million.
Story Summary:
- A 29-year-old South African woman was apprehended in Ethiopia, caught with 13 kilograms of cocaine valued at R5.4 million.
- The arrest followed a collaborative investigation between SAPS counter-narcotics intelligence and Ethiopian Federal Police.
- The woman was flagged as a drug mule travelling from Brazil.
South African smuggler caught with cocaine in Ethiopia
Authorities flagged the woman as a drug mule, tracking her from Brazil to Ethiopia via several countries, with plans to return to South Africa.
SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that the woman had departed from OR Tambo International Airport in early October, heading to Brazil to collect drugs.
When she arrived in Addis Ababa on Saturday, Ethiopian authorities intercepted her luggage, discovering the cocaine.
The suspect will be charged and is set to appear in court in Ethiopia.
The arrest occurred due to a collaboration between South African Police Service (SAPS) counter-narcotics intelligence and the Ethiopian Federal Police.
SAPS commissioner General Fanie Masemola commended the joint effort between African law enforcement agencies, saying:
“We are stamping the authority of the state on a larger scale and sending out a clearer message that the long arm of the law will find you, no matter which route you utilise to try and traffic drugs into SA.”
Rising trend of drug smuggling at OR Tambo International Airport
This case is part of a growing trend of drug-related arrests at OR Tambo International Airport.
In recent months, there have been multiple reports of drug mules attempting to traffic cocaine into South Africa.
Last week, a male suspect was apprehended at the airport after ingesting 117 cocaine bullets. He experienced severe health complications and had to be rushed to a hospital, where authorities recovered the drugs.
In late September, a 30-year-old Namibian woman was arrested at OR Tambo with more than 60 cocaine bullets, while a Nigerian drug mule was caught a week earlier with cocaine hidden in airplane headphones.
Another South African woman was intercepted with over 110 cocaine bullets during the same period.
