Cops clamp down on OR Tambo drug mules

2012-03-14 17:24

Johannesburg - Three suspected drug mules will appear in the Kempton Park Magistrate's Court next week, Gauteng police said on Wednesday.

They were arrested at OR Tambo International Airport at the weekend for allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs with a total value of about R1.5m into South Africa, Colonel Vishnu Naidoo.

On Saturday, Dawn Whelinena Sampson, from Guyana, arrived on a plane from Sao Paulo, Brazil. He was searched, and found carrying three laptops.

"Police found just under 3kg of cocaine concealed inside the three laptops with a total value of approximately R1m."

Wilfredo Wilder Pen Saavedra, who is from Peru, arrived on the same flight, Naidoo said.

"He was suspected of having swallowed drugs, and after having undergone X-rays, it was discovered that he indeed had swallowed foreign objects suspected to be cocaine to the value of approximately R300 000," Naidoo said.

On Sunday, police arrested Nigerian citizen Odinaka Aloysius Ilona, also on a flight from Sao Paulo.

He was also suspected of having swallowed drugs. He was X-rayed and found to have swallowed cocaine.

"He has since discharged capsules [bullets] containing cocaine to the value of approximately R200 000."

He was still in hospital.

Sampson and Saavedra appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrate's Court on Monday and would remain in custody until their next court appearance on March 19. The case against Ilona was postponed, in absentia, to March 20.

- SAPA