A 55-year-old Nigerian man has been arrested by the South African Police Service (SAPS) on suspicion of drug trafficking after arriving at OR Tambo International Airport from São Paulo, Brazil. The arrest followed a police interception upon his arrival, where authorities discovered that he had swallowed cocaine-filled capsules worth an estimated R7.5 million.
SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda Van Wyk confirmed the arrest in a statement released on Tuesday, explaining that a medical X-ray revealed multiple objects inside the suspect’s stomach, suspected to be cocaine capsules. “The suspect had just landed from São Paulo, Brazil, when police intercepted him. A medical X-ray confirmed that he had ingested numerous capsules containing cocaine,” said Van Wyk.
The man is under medical supervision as he expels the ingested capsules. He is expected to appear in court at the Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court shortly to face charges related to drug trafficking.
