A suspected OR Tambo International Airport drug mule, Riscliff Tadue Ramos, will remain in police custody for a week until his bail hearing.
Ramos was nabbed at the airport by the East Rand Hawks’ organised crime investigation with allegedly 4 KG of cocaine wrapped around his body.
He appeared at the Kempton Park Magistrate’s court on Monday and the case was postponed to July 30.
Lloyd Ramovha, Hawks spokesperson, said the operationalized intelligence had a tipoff that there was a person sneaking drugs into South Africa and would arrive from Brazil on Friday.
Transporting drugs from Brazil
“A multidisciplinary team approached the identified flight at the landing bay. The suspect was located. [The suspect] had not checked in [the] luggage apart from what he was carrying.
“He was taken to the ORTIA (OR Tambo international airport) police station, and an interpreter was sourced after he indicated that he doesn’t understand English.
“He admitted to the officers through the interpreter that he was in possession of drugs,” said Ramovha.
Ramovha said the drugs were found wrapped around his body during a body search and he was immediately arrested and charged with contravening the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act.
Ebrahim Kadwa, Gauteng provincial head of the Hawks, said: We have acted to ensure that many methods that organised criminal groups employ to illegally import harmful illicit substances into the country are thwarted.”
The Hawks had also arrested two drug mules at ORTIA trying to smuggle tik to Israel last month.
Pieter Johan Cristie and Belinda Butcher are believed to be a couple from the Eastern Cape and have worked as car guards.
The Hawks revealed that Christie carried 1.75 kg of crystal meth while Butcher had 0.90 kg of meth in her luggage.
The duo appeared at the Kempton Park Magistrate’s court and were granted R5,000 bail each, but they remain in custody pending payment.
