/ 14 November 2007

Police find 16kg of cocaine in knapsack at airport

Johannesburg police discovered 16kg of cocaine with a street value of R7,2-million at OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesday.

Senior Superintendent Vish Naidoo said officers came across the drugs, hidden in a knapsack, in the airport’s cargo section.

”The knapsack was concealed in a maize bag and was from São Paulo airport in South America,” said Naidoo.

No one was arrested in connection with the discovery.

”This is the seventh seizure since the beginning of November. We have confiscated cocaine, Mandrax and dagga at the airport’s cargo section totalling a value of over R100-million during this month,” said Naidoo.

Police have since arrested seven men — a 75-year-old Portuguese national, a 30-year-old Nigerian and an 18-year-old South African.

Investigations are continuing, Naidoo said. — Sapa