National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Fannie Masemola, has reiterated his stance that South Africa is ‘not a playground for criminals’ and that anyone who finds themselves on the wrong side of the law will be sniffed out.

Masemola said criminals will be made to answer to the crimes they have committed.

This comes as a multidisciplinary team working at OR Tambo International Airport has seized more than R13 million worth of drugs, including R12 million worth of cocaine, in the past two months.

Nine suspected drug traffickers or drug mules have been arrested during this same period. All suspects were arrested in possession of the drugs.

In the latest success, OR Tambo police arrested a Nigerian believed to be a drug mule on Friday evening.

Police were working closely with airport security, the Border Management Authority (BMA), customs officials and Airport Company South Africa (ACSA) staff when the arrests were effected.

‘The drug mule had just landed from São Paulo a
nd was connecting to Nigeria when he met with a cleaner at the airport and handed him airline headphones. Suspecting that there was something amiss, the team opened the aircraft headphones and found cocaine stashed in the headphones.

‘The drug mule who claims he is a street vendor in Nigeria said he was in Brazil to buy clothes and shoes which he sells in his home country. Police are investigating this aspect to prove that this may be used as a decoy,’ said the police.

The cleaner, who noticed that police were hot on his heels, evaded arrest.

Police have since launched a manhunt for him.

Masemola applauded the team for their vigilance that continues to yield positive results.

He said the men and women in blue remain dedicated to putting a stop to the illicit drug trafficking trade.

‘These arrests and drug confiscations should serve as a deterrent to other drug traffickers, that they will be caught,’ he said.

Source: South African Government News Agency