A Nigerian drug mule was apprehended at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Friday, 13 September 2024, after being caught with cocaine hidden inside a set of airline headphones.
Story Summary:
- A Nigerian drug mule was arrested at OR Tambo Airport with cocaine hidden inside aircraft headphones.
- The mule was caught during a routine security check at the airport, where drug smuggling has become an increasing concern.
- Authorities have launched a manhunt for an airport cleaner believed to be involved in the drug operation.
How the Nigerian drug mule was caught
According to police, the suspect, who had arrived from São Paulo and was en route to Nigeria, met with an airport cleaner to hand over the headphones when police and customs officials noticed suspicious behaviour.
The authorities, working closely with a multidisciplinary team including airport security and the Border Management Authority (BMA), became suspicious and decided to inspect the headphones.
Upon investigation, they discovered cocaine cleverly stashed inside the earphones.
SAPS’s National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola praised the vigilance of the officers involved, stating that South Africa is “not a playground for criminals” and that efforts will continue to rid the country of illicit drug activity.
He added that drug traffickers should be aware that they will eventually be caught, as authorities are relentless in their pursuit of justice.
The drug mule claimed to be a street vendor in Nigeria, alleging he had travelled to Brazil to purchase clothes and shoes.
Police are currently investigating whether this was a cover story used by the trafficker.
Meanwhile, the cleaner involved in the transaction fled the scene when he realised the police were closing in.
A manhunt has been launched to capture the suspect, who remains at large.
OR Tambo Airport a hotspot for drug smuggling
OR Tambo International Airport has become a significant hub for drug trafficking in South Africa, with several cases of drug smuggling intercepted in recent months.
In the past two months alone, law enforcement officials at the airport have seized over R13 million worth of drugs, including R12 million worth of cocaine.
Nine drug mules have been arrested in this period, further spotlighting the airport’s vulnerability to international drug syndicates.
Drug traffickers often use creative methods to conceal narcotics, such as hiding them in personal items like clothing, luggage, or, as in this case, inside headphones.
However, airport security and SAPS teams have heightened their vigilance, regularly conducting thorough checks on suspicious passengers and cargo.
General Masemola reaffirmed that these successful operations serve as a deterrent to would-be traffickers.
“We remain committed to dismantling these networks, and we will continue to monitor and disrupt these illegal activities.”
