Featured Image Credit: SA Police Services
We've all had a bit of a panic while going through airport security at some point or another, worrying that we've unwittingly packed something that's not allowed.
After all, something as seemingly innocent as forgetting to take a piece of fruit out of your suitcase can get you in a spot of trouble.
But, when a woman was arrested at a South African airport, X-rays left police with no doubt that the 'goods' she was carrying weren't just a silly mistake.
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Prior to the woman's flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil, to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Sunday (September 22), police in South Africa received a tip-off that somebody on the plane was carrying drugs.
So, when the 30-year-old arrived, she was arrested and an X-ray instantly detected a number of foreign objects in her stomach.
Under police guard, she was then forced to 'release' 68 'bullets' of what is suspected to be cocaine.
Authorities say that the pellets weighed a combined total of about 850g.
Brig Athlenda Mathe, a spokesperson for the police, said: "The team immediately intercepted the drug mule as she was making her way through immigration. She was immediately arrested, taken to a local hospital where a medical X-ray confirmed and detected foreign objects in her stomach.
"The drug mule has released 68 drug bullets from her body. The estimated weight of the drugs is 850 grams. The value of the drugs cannot be determined at this stage."
The woman, who is reported to be from Namibia, was taken into police custody and is set to appear in court today (September 25) as she is charged with drug dealing and drug possession. Additional charges may be added at a later date, Mathe confirms.
She is the tenth drug mule to be arrested at the South African airport in the past two months.
Across that time, more than a whopping £560,000 worth of drugs have been seized.
General Fannie Masemola, national commissioner of South African Police Service, has since praised authorities for their swift action in intercepting the drug smuggling as well as the multi-disciplinary team working tirelessly to clamp down on criminality at the airport.
In a statement, Masemola warned: "Our men and women in blue are hard at work intercepting hardened criminals. South Africa is not a playground for criminals and transnational organised crime. We are squeezing the space for criminals and leaving nothing to chance."
