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Drugs seized - destined for Dbn
24/02/2008 18:00 - (SA)
Johannesburg - About R54m worth of cocaine, smuggled into the country from Brazil, was confiscated at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday, police said.
National police spokesperson Vishnu Naidoo said police in Sao Paulo notified South African authorities on Saturday that a plane heading to OR Tambo was carrying cocaine.
"When the plane arrived at the airport, police searched it and found over 120kg of cocaine valued over R54m."
He said the drugs were destined for Durban, according to a label on the box in which they were found in the cargo section.
No arrest had been made, he said.
Naidoo said it was not the first time that a large quantity of drugs of had been confiscated at the airport.
He said nor would it be the last time, criminals used the airport to smuggle drugs.
"We have to continue be vigilant," he said. Flights constantly monitored
Responding to the bust, South African Airways (SAA) said its flights were constantly monitored in an attempt to stamp out the transportation of illegal substances.
Linga Moonsamy, executive manager of corporate security at SAA, said: "This is an important step forward in the ongoing fight against crime.
"Today's (Sunday's) successful intervention should serve as a warning to others who may be planning to use SAA's operations to transport illegal substances into the country."
Moonsamy said the bust was part of an ongoing collaborative effort between SAA, the South African Revenue Service and the police to eradicate the transport of illegal substances.
"Team members positioned themselves at the SAA Cargo International Received Warehouse before the flight landed today (Sunday) and managed to seize the drug shipment on its arrival," he said.
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