From the start of 2026 to September 2026, OR Tambo International Airport has reinforced its position as South Africa’s primary frontline against international drug trafficking, recording the overwhelming majority of major drug seizures and arrests involving narcotics couriers.
Intelligence-driven operations by the South African Police Service (SAPS), SARS Customs, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) and other law enforcement agencies have resulted in several significant cocaine and khat seizures at OR Tambo this year.
The latest incident occurred on September 7, 2026, after an alleged drug trafficker, 45, was intercepted and arrested at OR Tambo International Airport, where police seized approximately 2kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of more than R800,000.
Police said the man was travelling to Hong Kong, China, when he was arrested at the airport.
This was the second drug mule arrested in four days following the arrest of a 54-year-old South African drug mule at the same airport.
At the time, police also seized drugs suspected to be cocaine.
Police arrested the man after receiving information. He too was reportedly travelling to Hong Kong when intercepted at the airport.
Before that, on August 25, authorities intercept more than 333kg of cocaine arriving on a flight from São Paulo, Brazil. The shipment consisted of 83.1kg concealed in passenger luggage and 250kg hidden in unmanifested cargo, with an estimated value of R167 million, although SAPS placed the combined street value at more than R200 million.
Earlier, on July 31, SAPS intercepted another 95kg of cocaine worth about R28 million in cargo arriving from Brazil. No arrests were immediately made as investigators pursued the syndicate behind the shipment.
Police have also arrested numerous individual drug mules throughout the year. These include:
- A Brazilian national caught with cocaine worth R8.7 million.
- A South African woman allegedly travelling to Hong Kong with cocaine and crystal methamphetamine worth more than R500,000.
- Several Dutch and Somali nationals intercepted with consignments of khat.
- A Dutch national arrested in May while attempting to fly to Germany with more than 40kg of khat worth R240,000.
Year-to-date seizures at OR Tambo
Based on publicly announced SAPS and SARS operations from 1 January to 8 September 2026, authorities have seized at least:
Year-to-date (2026)TotalEstimated drug volume seizedMore than 563kgEstimated street valueMore than R236.8 million
This figure includes:
- 333kg cocaine (R167m+)
- 95kg cocaine (R28m)
- 55kg khat (R100,000+)
- 45kg abandoned khat (R90,000+)
- 40kg khat (R240,000+)
- 2kg cocaine (R800,000)
- Cocaine and crystal meth valued at R500,000+
- Cocaine valued at R8.7 million seized from a Brazilian national.
OR Tambo vs King Shaka and Cape Town
The contrast between South Africa’s three busiest international airports is significant.
While OR Tambo International Airport regularly features in SAPS announcements detailing major cocaine interceptions and drug mule arrests, there have been few publicly announced major drug mule arrests or comparable cocaine seizures at King Shaka International Airport or Cape Town International Airport during 2026.
However, Parliament has been told that all three airports remain vulnerable to organised crime.
According to Acting Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia, OR Tambo, Cape Town International Airport and King Shaka International Airport collectively recorded 117 narcotics-smuggling cases between the 2023/24 and 2025/26 financial years.
Although SAPS did not provide a breakdown by airport, law enforcement officials continue to identify OR Tambo as the country’s highest-risk gateway because of its significantly higher international passenger and cargo volumes.
Cachalia said that SAPS had identified major international airports and associated air-cargo facilities as strategic environments that are exposed to elevated and dynamic organised crime risk.
“The precise classification of individual facilities forms part of security and intelligence assessments and is not publicly disclosed,” Cachalia said.
“Interventions in this regard include integrated multi-agency operations, intelligence-led profiling and the searching of suspicious cargo and conveyances, focused investigations, and strengthened access-control, supervision and integrity measure.”
Who are the drug mules?
SAPS data shows that both South Africans and foreign nationals are being used by international trafficking syndicates.
Among those arrested this year are:
- South African citizens.
- Brazilian nationals.
- Dutch nationals.
- Somali nationals travelling on foreign passports.
The nationality profile reflects South Africa’s role as both a destination and transit hub for international drug trafficking networks, particularly those linked to South America and Europe. Police have repeatedly noted that many cocaine consignments originate from Brazil, while khat is frequently trafficked towards European destinations.
SAPS has also disclosed that more than 50 drug mules have been arrested at OR Tambo International Airport over the past two years, underscoring the airport’s status as the country’s primary battleground against transnational narcotics syndicates.
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