By Ebi Kesiena
Two employees of Airports Company SA (Acsa) are set to appear in the Kempton Magistrate’s Court on Friday, alongside three others following their arrest in connection with a significant drug smuggling operation in Australia.
The arrests, part of a joint effort led by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), occurred after a highly coordinated operation on Wednesday.
The suspects face charges related to drug trafficking, contravention of the Civil Aviation Act, and contravention of the Customs and Excise Act.
The operation was initiated based on allegations that these individuals, employed by various companies were facilitating the trafficking of drugs into and out of the airport.
Among those arrested are two Acsa employees, two individuals from Menzies Aviation, and one from Swissport.
This marks the first operation of its kind linking a drug seizure abroad to suspects in South Africa for their involvement in transnational drug trafficking through Ortia.
Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), Hawks spokesperson, Colonel Katlego Mogale, highlighted the significance of the arrests, emphasizing the joint effort to eliminate individuals tarnishing the reputation of Ortia and the country.
Also, Major General Ebrahim Kadwa, Head of Hawks in Gauteng, commended the collaborative investigation team’s dedication to countering drug trafficking and issued a stern warning to corrupt officials, urging them not to engage in facilitating such illicit activities.
