South African customs officers at the weekend seized a crystal meth consignment weighing 785 kg and valued at US$16.9 million at OR Tambo International Airport which was on its way to Australia, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) announced on Monday.
SARS said the consignment “was declared as multi-purpose anti-slip mat to the customs officers on arrival at the airport.”
“But upon physical inspection, the anti-slip mat was found to have been used to conceal crystal meth weighing 785 kg with the street value of $16.9 million,” the revenue collector said.
SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter commended the customs officers for “a commendable job” for stopping the dispatch of the drugs.
“I want to send a clear warning to the criminal syndicates that are using our ports of entry/exit to commit this type of crime, that our officers are alert and working very hard to stamp out such criminality,” Kieswetter warned.
He added: “The excellent cooperation with other law enforcement agencies at these ports is enabling all of us to deal a deadly blow to these illegal activities.”
The SARS said it had since handed over the matter to the South African Police Service’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks) for further investigation.
Crystal meth is a popular party drug, and it is the common name for crystal methamphetamine – a strong and highly addictive drug that affects the central nervous system, medical experts said.
There is no legal use for it, they added.
NM/jn/APA