Gopolang Chawane
Drugs of more than R2 million were found hidden in ironing boards at O.R. Tambo International Airport on Thursday.
The SA Revenue Service (Sars) said the discovery was made in the mail centre of the airport.
A customs officer on a random inspection spotted a parcel from India said to be containing ironing boards, Sars said in a statement.
The notion of importing ironing boards through mail customs raised her suspicion and she checked the parcel thoroughly.
“When she opened the parcel, she noticed that the ironing board trimmings were tampered with and she cut the bottom lining open,” said Sars.
“Each ironing board contained a packet of ephedrine (crystal meth). The total weight of the drugs was 7kg with an estimated street value of R2.1 million.”
The substance was handed over to the police for further investigation.
Sars said this was the second batch of ephedrine found in the mail centre in as many days.
“These are major seizures by Sars customs who implement daily inspections at all ports of entry in an effort to foil the smuggling of prohibited goods and close the gap on illicit financial flows.”
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