The multi-disciplinary team, tasked to prevent and combat crime at the OR Tambo International Airport, continues to make arrests of suspects on various crimes.
Over the past few days, the team recovered drugs worth millions, as well as abalone with an estimated value of R1.8 million, when they arrested four alleged drug and abalone traffickers.
SAPS spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Katlego Mogale, said the first suspects were intercepted at the check-in counters, where officials found container boxes of Kellogg’s corn flakes cereal.
Sachets containing white powder suspected to be crystal meth were found concealed in the boxes.
Mogale said the team at the airport are always on the lookout for suspicious looking people and luggage.
Another suspect, upon realising he was under surveillance, ran off to the basement where he had parked his vehicle.
“The team pursued him and discovered suspected drugs weighing about 6.62kg with an estimated street value of R1.98 million.”
The suspect was placed under arrest for possession of suspected drugs.
The third suspect, on the other hand, was found with suspected cocaine weighing 3.4kg and estimated to be about R940 000 when his luggage.
The last suspect was arrested as he arrived at the airport. Mogale said the preliminary investigation revealed that his name did not appear on the passenger list.
“He was searched and his luggage contained 17kg of ephedrine with an estimated street value of R690 000.”
In a different incident, the team intercepted a suspicious consignment en-route to Hong Kong. Upon inspecting the consignment, which had been declared as personal effects, 60kg of abalone with an estimated street value of R1.8 million was found.
The suspects have since appeared in court and further investigations are continuing. Mogale urged people to call SAPS Crime Stop number: 0860010111 with information on trafficking of illicit goods.
Callers may remain anonymous and all information will be treated with the strictest confidence. - SAnews.gov.za
