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Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) Security staff at O.R. Tambo International Airport successfully managed to prevent an attempted export of a concealed brick of cocaine yesterday (18/08).

Mzwandile Petros, Group Executive: Enterprise Security at ACSA, said that at approximately 12h30 on Thursday the airport’s security team which is highly trained to notice suspicious and erratic behaviour decided to approach the passenger who was about to catch a flight to Singapore.

The airport security team upon noticing this suspicious behaviour requested a private search in terms of the legal procedures. During the search, security staff discovered a brick containing cocaine. The estimated weight of the narcotics is yet to be established.

The suspect, a South African female, is in her late twenties (20s) and has been handed over to the South African Police Service (SAPS) Narcotics Department at the airport for further processing and investigation.

Speaking on this successful operation, Petros said “I have made it clear over the past couple of months that lawlessness at our airports will not be tolerated. Together with our security team we have increased our visibility and will continue to conduct random searches where we suspect foul play. I would also like to commend our security team for this operation.”

“Keeping our airports safe from criminal acts is high on our priority list, and I am clear that the safety and security of all passengers and customers using airport facilities are of paramount importance to the entire security persononnel at ACSA,” concluded Petros.

ACSA officials are confident in the processes to follow and have a full appreciation of the investigations that are to be carried out by SAPS on the suspect.

Issued by Airports Company South Africa