The South African Revenue Service (Sars) Customs division made another bust of multiple currency and drugs at OR Tambo International Airport valued at close to R15-million on July 30.
Risks were identified regarding two non-related male passengers, who were possibly in possession of excess currency travelling to Dubai. The travellers were intercepted attempting to leave SA and were questioned.
Both travellers admitted they were in possession of currency. Upon further questioning, the two could not provide explanations or evidence as to how they had acquired the currency. They were taken to the customs control area where their luggage was searched.
Upon inspection of the first passenger’s luggage, $464 650, equivalent to R6 114 794-m, was found concealed in paper wrapped with brown tape. The currency was confiscated and the passenger handed over to the police for further investigations.
During the inspection of the second passenger, $234 000, equivalent to R3 079 440-m, was found, also concealed in paper wrapped with brown tape.
On July 31 a shipment from South Africa destined for the UK was profiled for examination. The shipment had been declared as ‘car parts general’, however, upon examination of the contents, a booster charger was found which felt unusually heavy.
The part was X-rayed and dismantled, revealing 15 blocks of cocaine wrapped with black rubber and foil. The drugs weighed 16kg, which has an estimated value of R4.8-m.
In another incident, a parcel declared as books, destined for Australia, was intercepted. Four books were found containing sheets of plastic with cocaine weighing 2.5kg, with an estimated value of R750 000.
On July 28, a Brazilian female passenger expelled several “cocaine bullets” with an estimated value of R285 000. She was intercepted while disembarking from Sao Paulo. She questioned and her luggage searched with nothing suspicious found. However, risk indicators suggested the passenger might be a drug mule. She was taken to a hospital and an X-ray revealed foreign objects in her abdomen.
In another search, a parcel with no documentation was intercepted at Couriers with plastic containers concealing 250 cannabis heads with an estimated value of R25 000.
