Airline foils drug importation

26.02.2008

A plan to import cocaine weighing 122 kilogrammes with an estimated value of 55 million rands (N847.6 million) was foiled when the drug was confiscated off the South African Airways (SAA).

The drug was found on a flight SA223 from Sao Paulo, Brazil, to Johannesburg, the airline said on Monday.

The drug consignment was confiscated through the collaboration of SAA’s Corporate Security Logistics department, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) Customs division and South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Intelligence Unit.

This is part of an ongoing partnership among SAA, SARS and SAPS to eradicate the transport of illegal substances.

Team members positioned themselves at the SAA Cargo International Received Warehouse before the flight landed and managed to seize the drug shipment on its arrival.

Executive Manager of Corporate Security at SAA, Linga Moonsamy, said “this is an important step forward in the ongoing fight against crime.

“Today’s successful intervention should serve as a warning to others who may be planning to use SAA’s operations to transport illegal substances into the country.”

The cocaine was found in three bags in a wooden box in the hold of the aircraft, and it has been established that the destination for the consignment of drugs was Durban.

A full investigation into the issue is under way by SAA’s Corporate Security Logistics Department, the SAPS Crime Intelligence and SARS/Customs.