Two of the three women arrested in Brazil for allegedly dealing in cocaine are South African, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday.
Consular officials in São Paulo are still investigating the nationality of the third woman, said departmental spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa.
Officials were able to confirm the nationalities of the women after their fingerprints were sent to the Department of Home Affairs in Pretoria.
”The confirmation follows a visit to the prison on July 1 by South African consular officers stationed in São Paolo to verify the nationality of the three suspects and to determine whether there were any obligations arising from the Geneva Convention for the South African government,” Mamoepa said.
The two confirmed South Africans will now receive consular assistance.
The three were reportedly arrested on June 26 as they were preparing to board a flight for Johannesburg.
Associated Press (AP) reported that the three were taken into custody at São Paulo’s international airport.
An X-ray machine detected 3,9kg of the drug in the hand luggage of one of them. When police realised she was travelling with the other two, they opened their suitcases and found another 25,8kg.
They face up to 15 years in prison if convicted, AP reported. — Sapa