A 63-year-old woman was arrested at Cape Town International Airport for allegedly trying to smuggle heroin worth millions overseas.
Hawks provincial spokesperson Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani said the woman was arrested on Saturday and charged for trying to smuggle 3.5 kilograms of heroin worth approximately R1.6 million to Europe.
“The woman was arrested by the Hawks South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau team together with Border Policing Unit Cape Town and Gauteng Crime Intelligence before boarding the Ethiopian Airlines flight.”
Hani said the arrest was made following information received on August 4, that a suspected drug courier entered South Africa and would be taking drugs out on her departure.
Hani said the information was followed up and the narcotics were discovered in the suspect’s luggage concealed in an inside structure before checking in.
“The courier was intercepted and heroin was seized.”
The suspect is expected to make a first appearance in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on Monday facing a charge of dealing in drugs.
In an unrelated incident police made a drug bust at the Cape Town International Airport worth R2.4 million in October.
Police said the 37-year-old suspect landed in Cape Town from Dubai with 4 kilograms of cocaine.
Police said the cocaine was wrapped in chocolate wrappings hidden in the luggage.
IOL News