R200 Million Worth of Cocaine Seized at OR Tambo Airport
South Africa — South African authorities have seized approximately 250kg of cocaine from Brazil worth more than R200 million at OR Tambo International Airport.
Kwedu News 
By Staff Reporter
Johannesburg — South African law enforcement agencies have intercepted approximately 250kg of cocaine worth more than R200 million at OR Tambo International Airport, in a major drug seizure that has intensified scrutiny of international trafficking networks exploiting the country’s busiest aviation gateway.
The consignment, comprising 216 blocks of cocaine concealed in five luggage bags, was intercepted on Sunday, 25 October, by a multidisciplinary team involving the South African Police Service (SAPS), the South African Revenue Service (SARS) Customs and the Border Management Authority (BMA).
Police have confirmed that forensic specialists tested the packages and established that they contained cocaine.
SAPS national spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, told SABC News that authorities had yet to locate the suspect believed to be responsible for transporting the drugs.
No arrest linked to this particular seizure had been confirmed in the initial reports.
The seizure comes as South African authorities continue to confront drug trafficking at major ports of entry, with recent operations uncovering substantial cocaine consignments at the same airport.
South African Police say the cocaine luggage arrived on a flight from São Paulo, Brazil.
The drugs were divided into 216 blocks and packed into five luggage bags.
“We can confirm that we have seized 216 blocks of cocaine. We already confirmed that they are cocaine,” Brigadier Mathe confirmed.
She added that the estimated value of the seizure at more than R200 million.
National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, commended the officers and officials involved in the interception, crediting coordination between law enforcement agencies with helping to disrupt illicit drug movements through South Africa's borders.
South African Government News Agency quotes Masemola having said the seizure is evidence of the value of coordinated enforcement efforts and the vigilance of frontline officers.
The latest interception comes against the backdrop of sustained efforts to stop drug couriers from using OR Tambo International Airport to transport illicit substances.
SAPS reported that 116 drug mules had been arrested at the airport over the preceding 24 months, highlighting the continuing pressure on authorities to detect and prevent narcotics trafficking through the facility.
The October interception follows another substantial cocaine seizure at OR Tambo International Airport on 25 August 2026, where SARS announced that its Customs and Excise division had intercepted more than 333kg of cocaine, with an estimated street value of R167 million, during a targeted enforcement operation involving a flight arriving, again, from São Paulo, Brazil.
The customs officials found 75 bricks weighing 83.1kg in two pieces of passenger luggage during screening in the international arrivals hall.
In a separate discovery, a SARS narcotics detection dog reacted to four boxes of unmanifested cargo, which were found to contain another 250kg of cocaine.
The two consignments were referred to SAPS for further investigation and forensic processing.
SARS said the luggage and cargo discoveries involved similar “Air” branding on the cocaine.
The agency attributed the interception to an enforcement approach combining intelligence gathering, data analysis, risk profiling, technology and the work of customs officers.
