Police have arrested a 45-year-old man and seized about two kilograms of cocaine worth more than R800 000 at OR Tambo International Airport, marking the second alleged drug mule arrested at the airport in four days.
The suspect was intercepted on Monday, 7 September, following intelligence-led information received by the South African Police Service (SAPS).
According to police, the man was allegedly travelling to Hong Kong, China, when he was stopped at the airport.
A subsequent search of his luggage uncovered drugs suspected to be cocaine.
The suspect is expected to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court this week on drug-related charges.
SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk said the latest arrest formed part of ongoing efforts to target drug trafficking through one of the country’s busiest international gateways.
The arrest follows the detention of a 54-year-old South African man at the same airport on Thursday, 3 September.
The 54-year-old was also allegedly travelling to Hong Kong when he was intercepted by police following intelligence-led information. Suspected cocaine was found concealed in his luggage.
The weight and value of the drugs seized from the earlier suspect had not been determined at the time of his arrest. He was expected to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court on drug trafficking related charges.
The latest arrests come less than two weeks after law enforcement agencies made one of their biggest cocaine seizures at OR Tambo this year.
On 25 August, SAPS members working with other law enforcement authorities, including Customs officials, intercepted two separate consignments containing about 334 kilograms of suspected cocaine.
In the first interception, two large suitcases containing approximately 84 kilograms of suspected cocaine were found at the airport terminal.
A second interception at the cargo section resulted in the seizure of four boxes containing approximately 250 kilograms of suspected cocaine packed into 220 blocks.
The combined estimated street value of the drugs was more than R200 million. No arrests had been made in connection with those seizures at the time, with investigations continuing to identify those responsible for the importation and distribution of the drugs.
The South African Revenue Service also reported that its Customs and Excise division intercepted more than 333 kilograms of cocaine at OR Tambo on 25 August during a targeted operation involving a flight arriving from São Paulo, Brazil. SARS estimated the value of that consignment at R167 million.
Previous operations at the airport have involved both South African citizens and foreign nationals.
In February 2025, SAPS arrested two South African nationals at OR Tambo and seized cocaine worth an estimated R7.5 million. The two suspects, a man and a woman, had arrived separately on flights from Brazil. Police said the woman was carrying cocaine worth R2.5 million, while the man had cocaine valued at R5 million in his luggage.
Foreign nationals have also been arrested in similar operations. In May this year, SAPS arrested a Dutch national at OR Tambo after he was allegedly found with more than 40 kilograms of khat worth about R240 000. He was reportedly travelling to Frankfurt, Germany. SAPS said at the time that more than 50 drug mules had been intercepted and arrested at OR Tambo over the previous two years.
In April, police also arrested a 66-year-old Somali national who was reportedly travelling with a Netherlands passport. A search of his luggage resulted in the seizure of 55 kilograms of khat.
SAPS has repeatedly said intelligence-led operations and cooperation between police, Customs and other agencies are key to disrupting transnational drug trafficking networks operating through the country’s ports of entry.
Van Wyk said the latest arrests demonstrated the continued focus on intercepting suspected traffickers before they could move drugs across international borders.
