A suspected drug courier was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesday after alert security officers conducted a search of a Seychelles-bound passenger believed to be acting suspiciously.
The male Seychelles national was arrested after airport security officers called in the police based at the airport.
The man had been due to leave South Africa on flight HM60 bound for his home islands. His behaviour aroused the suspicion of security officers at a checkpoint. The officers requested that a search be conducted in private by two other officers.
Two packets of suspicious white powder, thought to be cocaine, were found on the passenger’s person during the search.
At this point, South African Police Service officers based at the airport were called in to proceed with the investigation.
The passenger’s bags were also scanned as part of this process and further searched by both airport and police officers. Nothing additional was found in these bags and the suspect was then escorted to the police station at the airport.
It was later determined that the two packets contained cocaine with an estimated street value of R140 000.
Said airport spokesperson Leigh Gunkel-Keuler: “As airport management we have congratulated our security officers who continue to carry out their security with professionalism and care.
“Furthermore, we remain committed to the continuing work being done across all government agencies based at this airport to curb all forms of crime and corruption. This effort continues to operate under the banner of the Integrated Multi-Disciplinary Tactical Security Plan, which was launched in July last year by the minister of police, Fikile Mbalula.”
