Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has commended the South African Police Service (SAPS) for their decisive action in intercepting a suspected drug trafficker at O.R. Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) on Friday, 23 May 2025. The arrest forms part of a broader campaign to stem the flow of narcotics through the country’s key aviation hubs.
The operation led to the arrest of a 39-year-old Brazilian national, who had arrived from São Paulo and was transiting to Benin. The suspect was flagged during routine profiling procedures. A subsequent body search revealed cocaine valued at approximately R1.4 million, strapped to his legs. The individual has been taken into custody and is expected to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrates Court on drug trafficking charges.
This interception is among numerous successful SAPS operations at South African ports of entry. Between January and March 2025 alone, over 23,000 people were arrested for drug possession and more than 3,400 for drug dealing, with several cases emerging at ORTIA. These ongoing efforts underscore the critical role played by law enforcement in disrupting transnational crime networks.
ACSA has reiterated its unwavering support for SAPS-led initiatives, highlighting the importance of collaboration in securing the nation’s air travel infrastructure. Through joint efforts involving intelligence-led policing, surveillance technology, and security protocols, ACSA and SAPS are bolstering border security.
“Airports Company South Africa is proud to work alongside SAPS and other law enforcement agencies to maintain the integrity and safety of our airports,” said Ms. Laurene Less, ACSA Group Executive for Corporate Services. “The work done by our partners at O.R. Tambo International Airport continues to demonstrate our collective commitment to disrupting organised crime and securing our borders.”
ACSA reaffirmed its zero-tolerance stance on all forms of criminal activity at its facilities and praised SAPS’s broader achievements, including the dismantling of clandestine drug laboratories and the destruction of narcotics valued at R5.2 billion over the past three years.
The partnership between airport authorities and law enforcement remains a cornerstone of aviation security. ACSA has expressed its full commitment to supporting SAPS in maintaining the integrity of South Africa’s international aviation gateways.
SOURCE AND IMAGE: ACSA
