/ 13 December 2013

Woman caught with ivory at OR Tambo

A 58-year-old woman has been arrested at OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng for possession of 40kg of ivory.
A 58-year-old woman has been arrested at OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng for possession of 40kg of ivory.

A 58-year-old woman was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng on Friday for possession of 40kg of ivory.

Customs officials caught the Chinese woman aboard a South African Airways flight which was about to leave for Hong Kong, said South African Revenue Service (Sars) spokesperson Adrian Lackay.

"Officials acted on intelligence information they received beforehand. One of the sniffer dogs at the airport confirmed the ivory," he said.

The ivory, worth about R400 000 on the street, was concealed in her luggage. "It was wrapped in a foil, brown paper and clothes," said Lackay.

The woman will appear in court soon. – Sapa