R12m heroin seized at OR Tambo

2009-07-03 22:45

Johannesburg - Heroin with a street value of R12m was discovered on a passenger aircraft from Iran at OR Tambo International Airport on Friday, national police said.

The drugs were hidden inside a heavy metal case made to look like a spare part for a machine or a car, said Senior Superintendent Tummi Golding.

The heroin, hidden inside the metal object, was detected on an electronic scanner.

It was destined for a Johannesburg address and after checks the address was discovered to be non-existent.

"The consignment was from Tehran in Iran, which makes it the first in South Africa. Normally you don't get drugs from such countries being passed through South Africa," said Golding.

No one had been arrested in connection with the incident.

In a separate incident at the airport on Thursday, police discovered 130kg of Viagra valued at R11.2m on an aircraft from Singapore.

This consignment had no address, meaning that it was an inside job from that country's cargo officials, said Golding.

"Cargo in Singapore should have disallowed the consignment as it had no address," she said.
 

- SAPA