/ 10 October 2007

Cocaine found in OR Tambo warehouse

Cocaine with an estimated street value of R2,7-million has been found at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport, the South African Broadcasting Corporation reported on Wednesday.

Police said the cocaine was hidden in boxes stored in a South African Airways warehouse.

The bust on Tuesday followed last week’s R7-million haul when 50 boxes of mandrax were found in a sealed consignment in the airport’s cargo unit. The boxes came from Mumbai, India.

In the same week, 40 boxes of compressed dagga destined for the United Kingdom were confiscated at the airport by police.

Four South Africans and one Nigerian national — aged between 28 and 50 — were arrested.

Police spokesperson Tumi Golding said of Tuesday’s bust that the cocaine was hidden in boxes stored in a South African Airways warehouse.

”The shipment declared on the waybill was cartons containing 71 pairs of ladies’ shoes and nine units of sewing machines and tables … but approximately 6kg of cocaine hidden in the top boxes … were confiscated,” said Golding. – Sapa