Dog Finds Drugs Worth R500 000 at OR Tambo Airport

Johannesburg – A sniffer dog found drugs with a street value of over R500 000 in two routine checks at OR Tambo International Airport, the SA Revenue Service said on Tuesday.

The dog intercepted 77 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 77kg, with an estimated street value of R107 800, which had been declared as citronella-scented wax melts destined for Budapest, Sars spokesperson Sandile Memela said.

In the second incident, the dog sniffed out heroin with an estimated street value of R484 344, hidden in the lining of a box filled with clothing destined for Amsterdam.

Both consignments were handed to police after they were found on Monday.

At the Golela border post in KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday, custom officials arrested a Malawian taxi passenger carrying heroin with a street value of R788 900. The man was travelling from Mozambique.

All passengers were asked to get out of the taxi and their bags inspected. Heroin weighing 1.1kg was found in a secret compartment of one bag.

The 27-year-old was charged with possession of drugs and appeared in the Pongola Magistrate’s Court on Monday, KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Lieutenant Nqobile Gwala said.

He would remain in custody until his next appearance on Thursday.