A series of recent drug arrests at major airports across South Africa, including the detention of five South African women caught at OR Tambo International Airport with R5 million worth of drugs in their possession and on their bodies, are highlighting a growing and dangerous trafficking trend linked to global criminal networks.
Authorities say South Africa is increasingly being used as both a rapid transit and recruitment hub, with smugglers targeting vulnerable individuals to move drugs on international routes.
While recent arrests point to increased enforcement, official police data from 2025 underlines the scale of the problem.
According to Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, national spokesperson for the South African Police Service (SAPS), thousands of drug-related arrests were recorded in the first quarter of last year.
“SAPS is stepping up its efforts to crack down on the illicit drug trade,” Matthey said.
Between January and March 2025, 23,306 suspects were arrested for drug possession, including smugglers caught at OR Tambo International Airport.
“Most of these drug smugglers are coming into the country from Brazil and have been found to have ingested these drugs. Through targeted intelligence operations, we have been able to intercept more than 20 drug smugglers at this port of entry in the last six months,” he said.
Mathe said 3,471 suspects were arrested for drug dealing during the same period, including a major bust in Mpumalanga, where a clandestine drug laboratory was destroyed.
“Drugs, high-performance vehicles and machinery worth R27 million were seized in the operation, including R3 million in cash found in the boot of a Mercedes Benz,” he said.
Police have also intensified efforts to destroy the seized narcotics.
“Over the past three years, it is heartening to note that drugs worth R5.2 billion have been destroyed,” Mathe said, adding that drugs worth R340 million were destroyed in the Western Cape during a single operation in March 2025.
One global pipeline, and one local vulnerability
Anti-crime activists say the recent increase in arrests reflects deeper structural issues rather than isolated incidents.
“The increase in arrests of drug mules at South African airports is extremely worrying, but not surprising,” Joseph Abramjee, an anti-crime activist, told IOL.
“What we are seeing is the convergence of multiple factors: high unemployment, growing economic desperation, and the global expansion of organized crime networks that actively target vulnerable countries like ours as transit and recruitment centers.”
South Africa's geographical location and global connectivity make it a strategic link in smuggling routes between continents.
“In many of these cases, the person being arrested is not the mastermind but the lowest-level courier in the chain,” Abramjee said.
“They are often recruited through deception, coercion or financial desperation. Young people in particular are extremely vulnerable.”
Despite increasing arrests, concerns remain whether enforcement is targeting the right level of the criminal chain.
Abramjee said, “Arresting mules does nothing to dismantle the sophisticated networks behind them. The real organizers, the ringleaders, are rarely brought to justice.”
“In short, we can't block our way out of this problem.”
Abramjee also warned about potential systemic weaknesses.
“Even a small number of compromised officials within airports, border control or law enforcement can create gaps that syndicates exploit,” he said.
Under airport security scrutiny
Speaking to IOL, Airports Company South Africa says aviation security operates within a strict regulatory framework and involves a number of agencies.
ACSA spokesperson Ofentse Dijo said the entity plays a central role in ensuring airport security at its nine airports.
“Airports Company South Africa plays a vital role in aviation security by ensuring the protection of passengers, crew, ground personnel, the public, aircraft and airport facilities against unlawful interference,” Dizo said.
He explained that ACSA is responsible for implementing and maintaining security systems, including airport-specific security programs and coordination structures.
“ACSA Security bears significant responsibility for the day-to-day implementation of security measures, including developing and maintaining an approved airport security program and coordinating security efforts among stakeholders.”
Dijo emphasized that drug enforcement is a multi-agency responsibility.
“The law enforcement agency responsible for drug seizures and combating drug trafficking at airports is the South African Revenue Service Customs, which works closely with other agencies such as the South African Police Service.”
“When narcotics are discovered, SARS Customs hands the case over to the SAPS for further investigation and possible arrest.”
He said the country's aviation security framework relies on a multi-layered, inter-agency approach involving the SAPS, SARS, Border Management Authorities and the Department of Home Affairs.
Inside the Body: The Deadly Gamble of “Body Packing”
Beyond the criminal dimension, medical experts warn that swallowing drug packets, commonly known as “body packing”, poses a life-threatening risk.
Doctor Yasin Bismillah says that people who consume packets filled with drugs may appear fine initially but are constantly in danger.
“They are essentially carrying multiple high-risk foreign bodies filled with potentially lethal substances that could become medical emergencies at any time,” he said.
The most serious danger occurs when a packet explodes inside the body.
“If a packet breaks inside the body, it releases a large, concentrated dose of the drug directly into the bloodstream,” Bismillah said.
“This can lead to sudden cardiac arrest or respiratory failure. In many fatal cases, collapse can occur within minutes.”
Other complications include intestinal obstruction, internal perforation, and serious infection.
“These symptoms are considered to be possible poisoning until proven otherwise,” he said.
In severe cases, emergency intervention is required.
“If there are signs of toxicity, blockage, or rupture, it becomes a medical emergency requiring ICU care or surgery.”
Fatal outcomes are not uncommon in such scenarios.
“The cause of death is usually associated with acute drug toxicity following packet breakage,” Bismillah said.
A fight is not over yet
The recent arrest of five South African women at OR Tambo International Airport underlines the persistence of smuggling syndicates and their ability to recruit new couriers.
Experts say that a comprehensive strategy is needed to deal with the crisis.
“We need to go after the networks, protect the vulnerable, and close the gaps that are being exploited by traffickers,” Abramjee said.
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