Johannesburg,South Africa

Five suspects which were arrested on Wednesday by Hawks for drug trafficking at OR Tambo International Airport(ORTIA) appeared in court today.

According to police statement,the five accused,Stanley Nkuna(33),Justice Mahloma(44),Madimetje Mahangwhane(41),Thulani Sibiya(31) and Fuba Mahlangu(40) appeared in the Kempton Park today,17 November 2023 on charges of drug trafficking,contravention of the Civil Aviation Act and contravention of the Customs and Excise Act after a large drugs consignment was recently confiscated in Australia.The quintet case was postponed to 23 November 2023 for formal bail application.

In another operation,the police has arrested nine suspects for possession of prohibited and unlicensed firearms and ammunition at Western Cape Province.

According to police statement,Nyanga Crime Prevention Unit were busy with patrols in Sihlalu Avenue near to Nyanga Taxi Rank on Thursday,16 November 2023 at around 22:00,when they stopped a suspicious vehicle.The driver fled the scene and police members apprehended the passenger.When they searched the motor vehicle they confiscated a 7.65 pistol with ammunition.They arrested the 23-year-old man on a charge of possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition.

Still in the Western Cape,the police visited another place in Khayelitsha where eight suspects were arrested.

"Meanwhile Western Cape Tactical Response Team conducted an intelligence driven operation in the early hours of Friday,17 November 2023.They approached an address in Sector 6,S Block in Khayelitsha,searched the premises which resulted in the confiscation of an R5 assault rifle and three 9mm Norinco pistols with ammunition.They detained eight suspects on a charge of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

Once charged the suspects are expected to make their respective court appearances in the Athlone and Khayelitsha Magistrate court's on the mentioned charges,"said police statement.

Police said the quintet is alleged to have had a hand in a R500 million drug bust where the consignment of 5 bags of 100kg each were recovered in Australia on 7 October 2023 and five suspects arrested as result.

The arrest of quintet involved a joint operation of South African and Australian law enforcement agencies and all suspects were apprehended in Gauteng.

Police continued,the quintet was arrested on Wednesday,15 November 2023 in a joint operation spearheaded by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in concert with the Australian Federal Police,Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police,Airports Company of South Africa,Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa,Menzies Aviation and Swissport.Mahlangu and Sibiya were arrested at ORTIA,Nkuna in Tembisa,Mahloma and Mashangwhane in Boksburg.

Police concludes that the investigation is continuing and the DPCI does not rule out the possibility of more suspects being arrested.