The deputy national commissioner responsible for policing, Lt Gen Tebello Mosikili, confirmed that another drug mule arrested at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) in Johannesburg on Sunday has been rushed to hospital following a health complication. 

In Sunday’s (6/10) arrest, the police, in collaboration with officials from SARS, arrested a suspected drug mule (43) from Paraguay. He was arrested by police officials after arriving from São Paulo. This brings the total number of drug mules arrested at this airport in the last couple of weeks to fourteen.

“He has so far released about 117 drug bullets, suspected to be cocaine and after releasing 100 bullets, the bullets came out with traces of blood. This could indicate that there is a medical challenge in the stomach,” said the national police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe. “The releasing process has been stopped.” 

Mathe warns all people who might consider taking the risk and swallowing drug bullets, to be wary of the fact that these bullets, which are estimated to be 10g each, are very huge for a person to consume and is a dangerous exercise. It could cause a rupture in the rectum or, if these bullets burst, could cause internal bleeding which will lead to one losing their life.

She says this latest incident must send a strong message out there and serve as a deterrent that this exercise is dangerous and can cause loss of life. 

The police remain on high alert to prevent and combat criminality at the ORTIA.

Every week in the last month, the police have arrested at least one drug mule at this international airport. Last week alone, police arrested three drug mules including two Dutch traffickers, who were found with 80kg of Khat. Sunday’s arrest is the 14th drug mule to be arrested in recent weeks.

OFM News/Rethabile Monyane cg/mvh