R5million drugs in religious ornaments seized
Kempton Park – Drugs stashed inside religious ornaments weighing over 20kg, valued at an estimated R4.7million, were recently intercepted at OR Tambo Airport, according to police.
On Sunday Colonel Athlenda Mathe said a joint operational team was following information provided by crime intelligence, which led to the detection of the drugs weighing 21.4kg hidden inside religious ornaments. The ornaments were destined for SA from India.
Mathe said the bust resulted from a multidisciplinary security strategy involving collaboration between 10 departments and agencies at the airport. They included the SAPS, state security agency, customs, Ekurhuleni metro police, Airports Company SA security, Health Department, Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Department of Agriculture and the Department of International Relations and Co-operation.
“While investigations continue, authorities have brought this matter to the attention of Indian authorities and are working closely to establish who the import agents are and to establish the destination point in the country,” Mathe said.
Police appealed to anyone with information that could assist in the investigation to call 086 001 0111 or send information through the MYSAPSApp.