PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Suspected drug mule apprehended in SA
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) - The South African Police Services (SAPS) Thursday said crime Intelligence attached to Argentina's Buenos Aires airport made initiatives that led to an arrest of a 24-year-old Philippines drug mule.
The suspect was found in possession of 3.05kg cocaine pressed in a false suitcase compartment.
The suspect was apprehended minutes before she could board a South African Airways flight (SA-227) to Johannesburg, scheduled to depart last week.
Operation Proteus is an Interpol/Crime Intelligence project addressing drug trafficking in the South American region, with the focus on South America-South Africa-Nairobi (Kenya) route, as it is commonly used by drug mules.
Since the beginning of this year, approximately 30 drug suspects were stopped and arrested in South America while trying to ferry drugs to South Africa.
A South African citizen also died in Brazil early this year after swallowing an overdose of cocaine.
National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, Gen. Bheki Cele, applauded both authorities for their cooperation.
“The fight against Cross border crime is not only a priority for the South African police but for the South African Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation and the International Criminal Police Organisation,” he said.
He further commended the South African Police Interpol and detectives for the manner in which they are maintaining relations with their international counterparts to eradicate cross border crimes.
-0- PANA CU/SEG 7April2011
The suspect was found in possession of 3.05kg cocaine pressed in a false suitcase compartment.
The suspect was apprehended minutes before she could board a South African Airways flight (SA-227) to Johannesburg, scheduled to depart last week.
Operation Proteus is an Interpol/Crime Intelligence project addressing drug trafficking in the South American region, with the focus on South America-South Africa-Nairobi (Kenya) route, as it is commonly used by drug mules.
Since the beginning of this year, approximately 30 drug suspects were stopped and arrested in South America while trying to ferry drugs to South Africa.
A South African citizen also died in Brazil early this year after swallowing an overdose of cocaine.
National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, Gen. Bheki Cele, applauded both authorities for their cooperation.
“The fight against Cross border crime is not only a priority for the South African police but for the South African Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation and the International Criminal Police Organisation,” he said.
He further commended the South African Police Interpol and detectives for the manner in which they are maintaining relations with their international counterparts to eradicate cross border crimes.
-0- PANA CU/SEG 7April2011
