Brazilian woman arrested for alleged drug smuggling in Cape Town
A Brazilian woman was allegedly arrested at Cape Town Airport for allegedly smuggling cocaine in her luggage and swallowing drug pellets.
Cape Town authorities have arrested a 33-year-old Brazilian woman suspected of allegedly smuggling drugs into South Africa.
The suspect was apprehended at Cape Town International Airport on Sunday, 16 March, after arriving on a flight from Brazil.
Authorities uncover swallowed drug pellets
According to Eyewitness News, Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Siyabulela Vukubi stated that the woman was allegedly found in possession of cocaine concealed inside a sports bag.
Further investigation revealed she had allegedly swallowed drug pellets, leading officials to admit her to hospital for medical treatment.
Coordinated law enforcement operation
IOL reported that Lieutenant-Colonel Vukubi confirmed the arrest stemmed from a joint operation involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
These included the Cape Town International Airport Border Police, Customs officials, the Department of Home Affairs, and forensic specialists from the Plattekloof Forensic Science Laboratory.
Members of the South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (SANEB) initiated the operation after receiving intelligence about a suspected drug mule on the flight.
“Officers acted swiftly, identified the suspect, and conducted a search, leading to the discovery of cocaine in her luggage,” Vukubi stated.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities are still working to determine the estimated street value of the seized drugs.
Meanwhile, the suspect remains under police guard in hospital as medical personnel work to remove the ingested drug pellets.
Once charged, she will appear before the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on March 18 to face drug trafficking charges.
Are Foreign Nationals Behind South Africa’s Multi-Million Rand Drug Smuggling Operations?
South Africa has seen numerous cases of foreign nationals arrested for alleged drug smuggling.
On 5 March, police arrested a 55-year-old Nigerian national at OR Tambo International Airport for drug trafficking after he arrived from São Paulo, Brazil.
Authorities intercepted him and conducted a medical X-ray, which revealed that he had swallowed multiple drug pellets filled with cocaine.
In another development, Johannesburg law enforcement officials arrested a suspected drug kingpin in the city’s inner core.
The arrest took place as part of Operation Nomakanjani Manje Namhlanje, a large-scale crime prevention initiative targeting undocumented individuals and organised crime.
Do you think South Africa’s law enforcement agencies are doing enough to curb drug trafficking?
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