Pretoria - Drugs worth over R1 million were discovered hidden in lace embroidery at the OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) mail centre this week, said the South African Revenue Service (SARS).
On Tuesday, SARS Customs officials conducted random inspections at the ORTIA mail centre, where a parcel, which arrived from India and destined for Johannesburg, was searched. The parcel contained several items of lace embroidery which contained ephedrine.
The ephedrine weighed 3.45kg in total, worth a street value of R1 035 000.
The parcel and narcotics were handed over to the South African Police Service (SAPS) for further investigation.
The bust follows several other successful busts by SARS Customs officials. Last Thursday, at the Lebombo port of entry, customs officials discovered 4 979 pairs of counterfeit shoes with an estimated street value of R3.9 million.
The shoes were discovered when customs officials stopped a truck entering South Africa from Mozambique for inspection. Documentation handed to officials indicated that the truck was transporting empty crates. Upon inspection of the crates, officials discovered the shoes wrapped in plastic inside the crates.
A case has been opened with the SAPS for further investigation and the driver of the truck is now in the custody of the SAPS.
Earlier last week, customs officials discovered 2.12 kg of heroin estimated at R429 451 when the laptop bags of two travellers entering South Africa from Swaziland were inspected. The two suspects and the suspected drugs were handed over to the SAPS for arrest and further investigation.
“These are amongst the major seizures by SARS customs who implement daily inspections at all points of entry in an effort to foil the smuggling of prohibited goods and close the gap of illicit financial flows.
SARS will continue to work with other law enforcement agencies to protect the country and its citizens by disrupting organised crime and reducing illicit trade activities,” said SARS. - SAnews.gov.za
