The South African Police Service (SAPS) said that on Tuesday evening (28 October 2025), a multidisciplinary team led by Crime Intelligence Head Office inclusive of Gauteng Organised crime unit, SAPS JHB K9 and members of the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) were following up on information of drugs that were being stored at a plot in Blue Hills, Midrand.

According to further investigation, the drugs were brought into South Africa from a neighbouring country and were destined for Cape Town, Western Cape.

The cocaine was found hidden in a storage room on the identified plot.

A 56-year-old man who is believed to be the owner of the plot has been arrested and the cocaine weighing about 80 kg has been seized.

The suspect is expected to appear before the Midrand Magistrate’s Court later on this week, on a possible charge of possession of drugs as well as dealing in drugs.

The huge cocaine seizure comes two weeks after a massive R65 million drug bust off Durban Harbour on 12 October. In that incident, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) led an intelligence-driven raid on a vessel, seizing thirty bricks of narcotics from its refrigeration unit.

The post Man arrested for possession of R20 million worth of cocaine appeared first on ProtectionWeb.

“The total estimated street value of the 800 kilograms of drugs being destroyed today exceeds R340 million,” said Masemola. “This marks our second visit to this plant in the last 12 months. A year ago, we destroyed R550 million worth of drugs at this very site.”

Masemola noted over the previous three years, SAPS has destroyed various types of narcotics worth R5.2 billion. “This includes drugs confiscated nationally during the 2022/2023 financial year, amounting to approximately 20.8 tons,” said the Commissioner. “In 2023/2024, we destroyed approximately 14.5 tons, and so far in 2024/2025, we have already destroyed 15.2 tons, excluding today’s destruction.”

Masemola underscored the recent victories against drug syndicates, stating “just this past week, police have recorded significant successes, including the discovery of an arms cache in Cape Town. Our anti-gang unit and crime intelligence officers seized 26 illegal firearms, including AK-47 automatic rifles and Uzis, as well as 50,000 Mandrax tablets. Two suspects have already appeared in court.”

In Gauteng, SAPS uncovered a drug manufacturing laboratory in Westonaria, valued at R10 million, resulting in two arrests. “Three drug traffickers were also arrested at OR Tambo International Airport in the past two weeks, with a combined R7.5 million worth of cocaine seized. In the last six months alone, over 20 traffickers have been arrested at this key transit hub.”

Masemola further noted a recent operation which uncovered R6 million worth of cocaine, disguised as hair products, at OR Tambo International Airport. “The shipment was en route from Brazil to France, using South Africa as a transit point. Our officers remain vigilant in disrupting these networks,” said Masemola.

The drug destruction process is conducted under strict regulatory oversight. “All drug exhibit materials approved for destruction undergo a thorough audit. The forensic chemistry section ensures that each exhibit is verified and complies with all prescribed standards before incineration,” Masemola explained.

The event also marked the destruction of drugs linked to significant cases, including the Swartkops case. “This case involved the seizure of 513 kilograms of pure cocaine, with an estimated street value of R220 million. Several suspects were arrested in Brazil in connection with this operation, highlighting SAPS’ role in global anti-drug initiatives.”

Masemola concluded by reaffirming SAPS’ dedication to eradicating the drug trade. “The safety and well-being of our communities remain our top priority. Through continued collaboration with international and local law enforcement agencies, we will ensure that drug trafficking networks are dismantled, and offenders brought to justice.”

The Commissioner extended his gratitude to all officers and community members who contribute to the fight against drugs, reinforcing that law enforcement remains relentless in its mission to create safer communities.

The post SAPS destroys R5.2 billion worth of drugs in three years appeared first on ProtectionWeb.

Police received information about a vessel which left Brazil at the beginning on November and was carrying pure cocaine which was disguised as kidney beans. The vessel, which came to South Africa via another country, was monitored until Saturday, 30 November, when it docked at the Durban Harbour. The identified container was taken to a warehouse on South Coast Road in the Bluff area for a proper search.

During the search, eight bags of crushed pure cocaine were found and according to the documentation, the shipment was destined for Johannesburg. Investigations are underway to uncover the people behind the drugs, the South African Police Service said in a statement.

“We commend the excellent work being done by members of various law enforcement agencies to ensure that we close ranks. We are sending a strong message to all criminal syndicates that we are on high alert, we have adopted a zero-tolerance stance against all criminal activity,” said KZN Premier Thami Ntuli.

Large drug shipments have often been discovered coming through Durban Harbour. On 4 December 2023, 433 blocks of cocaine with a street value of R151 million was intercepted at Durban Harbour and found disguised in meat boxes.

In October last year, police tracked containers arriving in Durban Harbour from Brazil, discovering 228 blocks of cocaine in meat boxes worth R80 million. Just days before, R70 million worth of cocaine was also seized from a container at the Durban Harbour.

In January this year, more than half a billion rands’ worth of seized drugs were destroyed by law enforcement. These were confiscated during police operations in KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Free State, Gauteng, North West and Mpumalanga. They included cocaine, heroin, mandrax and cannabis. In the 2022/2023 financial year, six tons of drugs were seized and destroyed with a value of R2 billion.

From October 2023 to January 2024, police intercepted four massive drug consignments: three in Durban and one in Gqeberha.

Some of the drugs that were destroyed in January include those that were seized during the following drug busts:

A Durban Harbour case where 700 kg of cannabis worth a street value of R21 million was seized;

A Durban harbour case where 530 kg of cocaine worth an estimated street value of R185 million was seized;

A Durban Harbour case where 223 kg tablets containing Fenethyllin – a nervous system stimulant worth R17.5 million – was seized;

652 kg of Mandrax tablets worth R98 million, confiscated at a clandestine laboratory;

Heroine worth a street value of R28 million, seized from vehicles travelling from Mozambique to South Africa;

Drugs confiscated at OR Tambo International Airport worth R17 million.

The post Police seize over R80 million worth of drugs in Durban Harbour appeared first on ProtectionWeb.

According to SARS, the 47 cocaine bricks – weighing some 50 kg – were stuffed in a bag that was spotted by officials and airport security on a carousel for a flight from Sao Paolo in Brazil and heading to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“SARS Customs officers inspected the luggage bag and saw suspicious looking objects in the bag. These objects tested positive for narcotics. There were no passengers accompanying the bag and no arrests were made. The South African Police Service (SAPS) will now investigate the matter after everything was handed over to them.

“Sao Paolo in Brazil is a high-risk departure point for drug mules, and accompanied and unaccompanied luggage containing cocaine. There have been several busts of drug mules at OR Tambo airport in recent weeks,” the revenue service said.

SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter warned that the revenue service is partnering with the Border Management Authority, the Airports Company, SAPS and the Department of Home Affairs to crack down illegality.

“This multi-disciplinary approach is having palpable results, demonstrated by arrests and interceptions recently. Through these actions, we are protecting the wellbeing of our citizens, especially young people who are our future,” Kieswetter said.

In another case, the South African Police Service (SAPS) and Ethiopian Federal Police nabbed a South African drug trafficker with R5.4 million of cocaine in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

A team from SAPS Gauteng counter narcotics covert intelligence flagged a 29-year-old South African woman through SAPS Interpol on suspicion that the woman was travelling to Brazil to collect drugs and fly back to SA via several countries. The woman indeed travelled to Brazil from OR Tambo International Airport during the first week of October.

According to the drug trafficker’s itinerary, she was supposed to travel from Brazil via Addis Ababa via Sudan and back to South Africa.

Hot on her heels, SAPS intelligence immediately notified the Ethiopian Federal Police about her movements.

On arrival at Addis Ababa on 12 October, she was flagged and her luggage was checked which confirmed that she was carrying 13 kg of cocaine.

She was immediately apprehended and is expected to be charged and appear in court in Ethiopia, the SAPS said.

“The cooperation between SAPS and the Ethiopian Federal Police must be commended. When African police organisations unite, more can and will be achieved by working together. We are stamping the authority of the state on a larger scale and sending out a clearer message that the long arm of the law will find you, no matter which route you utilise to try and traffic drugs into SA. We are intensifying our fight against transnational organised crime and the trafficking of drugs. SAPS intelligence is relentless in their pursuit to be one step ahead of criminals, this is commendable”, said National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola.

The SAPS said that through Interpol SA, SAPS Gauteng counter narcotics covert intelligence will work closely with the Ethiopian Federal Police to investigate the masterminds behind this consignment.

The post Customs seizes R25 million worth of cocaine at OR Tambo International Airport appeared first on ProtectionWeb.

“Every week in the last month, SAPS has arrested at least one drug mule at OR Tambo International Airport. This week alone, police arrested three drug mules, including two Dutch traffickers, who were found with 80 kg of Khat. Today’s (Sunday’s) arrest is the 14th drug mule to be arrested in recent weeks,” the police said in a statement released at the weekend.

In Sunday’s arrest, the SAPS in collaboration with officials from the South African Revenue Service (SARS), arrested a 43-year-old drug mule from Paraguay who had landed from São Paulo.

“A medical examination confirmed that he had swallowed multiple foreign objects and has so far released more than 20 bullets suspected to contain cocaine. This brings the total number of drug mules arrested at this airport in the last couple of weeks to fourteen,” said the SAPS.

Last month, a 21-year-old South African woman became the eleventh person arrested for drug trafficking at the OR Tambo International (ORTIA) Airport.

At the time, the police said she was intercepted as she was arriving on a flight from São Paulo, Brazil.

She was taken to a local hospital where an X-ray confirmed that she had foreign objects in her stomach.

In that arrest, the National Commissioner of Police, General Fannie Masemola, commended the vigilance of members of SARS and SAPS at the airport.

On Sunday, 22 September 2024, a 30-year-old Namibian drug mule was arrested after arriving from São Paulo.

On Friday, 13 September 2024, a Nigerian drug mule was arrested after he was found in possession of cocaine that was concealed in aircraft head phones. He had just landed from São Paulo.

On the morning of 07 October, Deputy National Commissioner responsible for policing, Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili, confirmed that the drug mule arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday has been rushed to hospital following a health complication. He has so far released about 117 drug bullets suspected to be cocaine.

The post 14th drug mule arrested at OR Tambo appeared first on ProtectionWeb.

The South African Police Services (SAPS), South African Revenue Service (SARS) customs and immigration officials received intelligence from the SAPS regarding a drug mule that would land from Sau Paulo at about 07:25.

“The team immediately intercepted the drug mule as she was making her way through immigration. She was immediately arrested, taken to a local hospital where a medical x-ray confirmed and detected foreign objects in her stomach,” said the police in a statement.

According to police the process to release the suspected drugs from her body is underway.

“She has already released more than 60 bullets of suspected cocaine thus far. She is currently under police guard and custody.

“The value of the drugs cannot be determined at this stage as the process to release all suspected drugs from the suspect’s body may take some time,” said the statement.

This is the tenth drug mule to be arrested at this airport in the past two months.

National Commissioner of the Police, General Fannie Masemola, applauded the vigilance of the multidisciplinary team who are working tirelessly to clamp down on criminality at the airport.

“Our men and women in blue are hard at work intercepting hardened criminals. South Africa is not a playground for criminals and transnational organised crime. We are squeezing the space for criminals and leaving nothing to chance,” said Masemola.

The post Alleged Namibian drug mule arrested with over 60 ingested cocaine bullets appeared first on ProtectionWeb.

Over the past two months, more than R13 million worth of drugs including approximately R12 million worth of cocaine has been seized at OR Tambo.

Nine drug mules have been arrested during this same period, with all suspects charged for the possession of illicit substances.

In the most recent incident, OR Tambo police apprehended a Nigerian drug mule on Friday, 13 September. Officers worked in conjunction with airport security, Border Management Authority members, customs officials and Airports Company of South Africa staff.

The suspected drug mule arrived from São Paulo and was connecting to Nigeria when he met with a cleaner at the airport and handed him airline headphones. Officers inspected the headphones and found cocaine stashed inside.

The drug mule claimed to be a street vendor in Nigeria, and stated he was in Brazil to buy clothes and shoes which he resells in his home country. The cleaner has evaded arrest, and Police have since launched a manhunt for him.

General Masemola applauded the men and women in blue, who “remain dedicated to putting a stop to the illicit drug trafficking trade.”

The post More than R13 million worth of drugs seized and nine drug mules nabbed at OR Tambo Airport in two months appeared first on ProtectionWeb.