SOUTH AFRICA: Cocaine Worth R9m Impounded At OR Tambo Airport

30kg of cocaine estimated at almost R9 million was seized by South African Revenue Service (SARS) customs officials in two separate incidents at OR Tambo International Airport on Friday.

In a statement, SARS said collaboration between customs officials and the South African Police Service led to the arrest of a passenger disembarking from a Sao Paulo flight via Johannesburg in transit to Mozambique.

A scan of the passenger’s luggage revealed irregular images and led to a second inspection which uncovered ten boxes of imitation jewellery.

Ninety wooden sticks were found in the boxes concealing a white substance which tested positively for cocaine.

A total of 24.66kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of R7 094 682 was confiscated and handed to the South African Police Service, said SARS.

In the second incident, customs officials intercepted 6.3kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of R1 812 510 concealed in the base of a passenger’s luggage.

The passenger was also on a Sao Paulo flight travelling via Johannesburg in transit to Mozambique.

SARS said both the passenger and the consignment were handed over to the police for further investigation.

It added that the successful operations are part of the increased joint operations between SARS and the South African Police Service.



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SOUTH AFRICA: Cocaine (200Kg) From Brazil Destined For Australia Impounded At O R Tambo International Airport

The South African Police Service (SAPS) says the heightened approach to safety and security at O R Tambo International Airport is already yielding results.

SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Katlego Mogale on Thursday said the multi-disciplinary, interdepartmental approach was introduced this week to root out criminals and criminality in the precinct of OR Tambo airport.

Mogale said members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) and Customs officials at the cargo section of the airport intercepted a consignment of hair products, including shampoo.

During the verification of the cargo, tests were conducted on the shampoo and a positive result for cocaine was achieved.

The consignment, with an estimated weight of 200kg and an estimated street value of R50 million, was seized. The consignment was destined for Australia from Sao Paolo, said Mogale.

No arrest was made in this regard but investigations are continuing

Also on Thursday, members of the Gauteng Flying Squad on patrol along the N3 in the Germiston area noticed a white VW Golf 7 GTI with KZN registration plates.

Mogale said the vehicle was being driven recklessly at high speed on the N3 North towards Pretoria. Members immediately gave chase and were able to stop the suspicious vehicle.

Upon searching the vehicle, the members found three unlicensed firearms – an AK47 with ammunition in the magazine as well as additional ammunition inside a bag, a R5 rifle with ammunition in the magazine, a 9mm pistol with ammunition as well as extra ammunition in a bag.

Both occupants of the vehicle, aged 35 and 50 years, were arrested and will appear in court on charges relating to the possession of unlicensed firearms, ammunition and possibly a suspected stolen vehicle.

Investigations are continuing to determine if the suspects are linked to any other crimes, said Mogale.

The suspects will appear at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court soon.

In another incident on the N12, between Jet Park and Kraft road off-ramps, police members picked up a suspicious white BMW.

The vehicle was stopped and the police discovered it had a false Free State registration number.

When the vehicle check was done, it was discovered that it was hijacked in Norkem Park two months ago. Police also discovered two unlicensed firearms with ammunition. The suspect was arrested.

Mogale said this multi-disciplinary intervention will continue. He commended the team on their commitment to fighting crime.



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SOUTH AFRICA: How Metered Taxis Blocked Uber From JHB Station

Metered taxi drivers used orange traffic cones from a drop-off zone outside Johannesburg’s Park Station to block off Uber drivers, say eyewitnesses.

Internet ride-sharing app Uber confirmed that its partner-drivers experienced intimidation from metered taxi drivers outside the central business district train station on Thursday morning.

Uber passenger, Celicia Serenata, said that she was among those affected by the incident when she ordered an Uber at 08:23 on Thursday.

Serenata said she noticed on the Uber app that the car she ordered kept going round in circles.

“I then noticed that on all four corners of the station, metered taxi drivers were blocking drivers from collecting passengers,” Serenata said.

“They used an orange cone they took from the drop-off zone.”

“There were two individuals that physically prevented me from getting into an Uber car - the third one I had ordered,” Serenata added.

Another Uber passenger at Park Station on Thursday morning, Samantha Aria, said that she also saw metered taxi drivers using cones to block off Uber drivers in the drop off zone.

“While I was waiting, there were three guys outside - I saw them and they looked a bit suspect, and they were sort of running around, and they had those traffic cones,” Aria said.

“And so when certain cars would come, they would put the traffic cones down in front.

“They’d walk into the drop off area and then they’d walk back out,” Aria said.

The metered taxi drivers were also telling passengers that there were no Uber cars available in the drop off zone, Aria said.

“The Gautrain security was just standing there looking at them,” Aria added.

Serenata said that she saw four Gautrain security guards doing nothing regarding the situation.

Serenata said she also called the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) who told her that they had dispatched a unit.

The officer who arrived then shook hands with one of the drivers and there was no action, added Serenata.

“The lack of action from both Gautrain security and Metro Police was deplorable,” said Serenata.

Gautrain explains security

Thursday morning’s incident outside Johannesburg's Park Station is just the latest involving metered taxi and Uber drivers.

Just last month, metered taxi drivers stoned two Uber cars and JMPD vehicles outside the Sandton Gautrain station, an incident that left three officers injured.

But officials from the Gautrain told Fin24 they don’t have authority to enforce protection outside the stations.

“Whilst we do everything in our control to ensure the safety and security of our passengers within the Gautrain premises, we have no jurisdiction to police the areas outside the stations and rely on the JMPD and SAPS (the South African Police Service) in this regard,” Kesagee Nayager, Gautrain Spokesperson, said.

However, Gautrain officials have requested more help from the JMPD and SAPS in light of recent violent incidents outside Gautrain stations.

SAPS arrived on scene

JMPD officials referred to SAPS for questions regarding Thursday’s incident outside Park Station.

Captain Kay Makhubela of SAPS said that there was no cause for concern when police officers arrived on scene outside the Gautrain station on Thursday morning.

SAPS also didn’t see metered taxi drivers putting up orange traffic cones around the station to ward off Uber drivers.

“When the police arrived there, nothing was happening,” Makhubela said.

“There was information that Uber would fight with the metered taxi around the area. So, the police went in and monitored and checked,” Makhubela said.

“But there was no fight at all. But the police are still monitoring the area,” Makhubela said.

The spotlight is increasingly on anti-Uber violence and intimidation in South Africa as government officials moved to comment on the matter this week.

On Monday, Parliament’s transport portfolio committee chair, Dikeledi Magadzi, said conflict between Uber partner-drivers and metered taxi owners needs to be resolved before lives are lost.

Meanwhile, local Uber spokesperson Samantha Allenberg said on Thursday that “this intimidation, caused by a small number of metered taxi drivers, only underlies why people are increasingly choosing safe, reliable alternatives like Uber.”