Johannesburg,South Africa

The South African Police Services(SAPS) has confirmed the arrests of five suspects at OR Tambo International Airport(ORTIA) by Hawks on Wednesday morning for drug trafficking.

According to SAPS,five suspects were arrested in a highly coordinated operation spearheaded by the HAWKS since this morning,15 November 2023 at OR Tambo International Airport(ORTIA) on allegations 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 and two suspects arrested.

Police has clarified that those arrested suspects work at airport for different companies that operate there including the employees of ACSA.

Police said the subsequent to an intelligence driven operation by the Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation following allegations that these suspects are employees of various companies at ORTIA where they are said to be facilitating the thoroughfare of drugs coming into and out of the airport.Two suspects employed by ACSA,two suspects from Menzies Aviation and one from Swissport were arrested as a result.

Police seems to be excited after arresting these suspects because that proves that South Africa is always alert to intercept any wrongdoing taking place in the country.

Police added:"The suspects will be appearing in the Kempton Park Magistrates court on Friday,17 November 2023.This is a first operation of its kind in relation to transnational drug trafficking perpetrated through ORTIA,where a drug seizure made abroad was positively linked to suspects in South Africa for their complicity.

The Provincial Head of the Hawks in Gauteng,Major General Ebrahim Kadwa,applauded the joint investigation team for their concerted effort in ridding the airport with unsavoury characters tarnishing the name of ORTIA and the country.The Hawks is totally committed to countering drug trafficking and would like to send a strong message to corrupt officials in such companies to not get involved in facilitating such illicit activities."

In another incident,the group of law enforcement agencies in the Northern Cape has confiscated illicit cigarettes and tobacco worth millions of Rands around the province and arrested one suspect.

"The Provincial Organised Crime Unit and Provincial Crime Intelligence in conjunction with,the Provincial Firearm,Liquor and Second Hand Goods Unit(FLASH),the Kimberley Public Order Police(POP),the Kuruman K9,Highway patrol and Crime Prevention Units,Prieska VISPOL,the South African Revenue Services(SARS) Customs and National Rapid Response team and the Department of Home Affairs Immigration Services conducted intelligence driven operations.

"Operations were executed in Kimberley,Kuruman and Prieska that commenced on Monday,13 November 2023.

"These multi-disciplinary operations were conducted on intelligence gathering efforts.

"The police seized various brands of illicit cigarettes and wooka tobacco valued at approximately R7.8 million and issued fines to the value of R1 500-00 for dealing in illicit medicine.

"The shop owners were served with compliance notices requesting them to provide the authorities with the required documentation permitting them to possess such consignments.

One suspect(33),a Bangladeshi national was arrested on previous warrant of arrest and will appear in the Kimberley Magistrates Court soon,"police statement concludes.