South African drug mule arrested in Ethiopia --[Reported by Umva mag]

An alleged South African drug trafficker was arrested in Ethiopia after being caught with R5.4 million (about US$310,000) worth of cocaine intended for South Africa.

According to South African police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe on Sunday, the woman was apprehended on Saturday following a coordinated effort between Gauteng police and Ethiopian federal authorities.

The arrest stemmed from a tip-off through Interpol South Africa, which flagged the woman as she returned from Brazil via multiple countries.

Mathe said the suspect had travelled from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg to Brazil in the first week of October.

Upon her intended return route through Addis Ababa and Sudan, police intelligence alerted Ethiopian officials about her movements.

On arrival in Addis Ababa, she was flagged for inspection, leading to the discovery of 13 kilogrammes of cocaine in her luggage.

The woman was arrested on the spot and is expected to face charges in an Ethiopian court.

The arrest adds to a troubling trend of South African nationals being implicated in international drug trafficking.

Recently, authorities have reported a series of busts involving South Africans attempting to smuggle drugs into the country from various locations, including Brazil and other South American nations, known for their significant cocaine production.

In recent months, several high-profile cases have emerged, involving mules caught at international airports with substantial quantities of narcotics.

These incidents have raised concerns about the increasing use of South Africa as a transit hub for drug trafficking networks.

JN/APA

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