SOUTH AFRICAN REVENUE SERVICE
PRESS STATEMENT

20 JUNE 2005

COCAINE CONFISCATED AT JIA

A South African man was arrested yesterday at the Johannesburg International Airport (JIA) after being found in possession of a large quantity of cocaine.

The suspect, who resides in Durban, was on a flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil that landed at JIA on Sunday.

SARS Customs officials did a routine search of the passenger's luggage but only found items of clothing. Since suspicions were raised about the nature of his trip, he was subjected to a body search.

The passenger then acknowledged that he had "something" hidden under his clothes. Further inspection revealed that he was carrying 5.116 kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of R2.5 million. The drugs were wrapped in packages around his waist and inner thighs.

The suspect and the drugs were handed over to the Organised Crime Unit of the South African Police Service. He is due to appear in court soon.

This incident follows another bust by SARS Customs Officials three days earlier when a consignment of cocaine was intercepted at Cape Town International Airport. In this case more than 1 kg of cocaine was hidden inside cookies a passenger en route from Brazil allegedly tried to smuggle into South Africa.

The confiscation at JIA yesterday was one of the biggest quantities of cocaine an individual attempted to illegally bring into South Africa in recent times.

END

For further media enquiries please contact Adrian Lackay on (012) 422 4000 or 083 388 2580.

ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN REVENUE SERVICE
PRETORIA



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