Nam Authorities in SA yet to confirm suspected drug mule’s nationality

NAMPA
2024-09-23
JOHANNESBURG, 22 September 2024 - A 30-year-old woman, said to be a Namibian national, was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on Monday. More than 60 bullets of suspected cocaine were recovered from the suspect. (Photo: Contributed) JOHANNESBURG, 22 September 2024 - A 30-year-old woman, said to be a Namibian national, was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on Monday. More than 60 bullets of suspected cocaine were recovered from the suspect. (Photo: Contributed)
WINDHOEK, 23 SEP (NAMPA) – The Namibian Police Force’s attaché in Pretoria, Commissioner Reinhardt !Goaseb has said the high commission is yet to confirm the nationality of a woman arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on alleged drug-related charges.
The 30-year-old woman, said to be a Namibian national, was arrested upon landing from São Paulo, Brazil, en route to Namibia, by the South African Police Service (SAPS).
SAPS has indicated that it received intel on a drug mule landing at the airport.
!Goaseb in an interview on Monday said he is awaiting feedback and permission from South African authorities to interrogate the suspect and determine if she is Namibian.
“At this stage, we are not sure about her nationality. Anyone can carry a passport which may even be forged, and pretend to be a Namibian national. The interrogation we are to conduct will give clarity on this issue,” !Goaseb said.
South African law enforcement, according to South African media outlets, immediately intercepted the suspected drug mule as she was making her way through immigration.
“She was immediately arrested and taken to a local hospital where a medical x-ray confirmed and detected foreign objects in her stomach,” South African media reports said.
(NAMPA)
EB/EK/AS

Latest NAMPA photos

SICHUAN, 08 July 2026 - Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, Inge Zaamwani. (Photo: Isabel Bento) NAMPA

SICHUAN, 08 July 2026 - Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, Inge Zaamwani. (Photo: Isabel Bento) NAMPA

NAMPA
OSHITAYI, 08 July 2026 - Ondangwa Urban Constituency Councillor Leonard Negonga address learners during the Ondangwa Urban Annual Constituency Culture Festival 2026 on Wednesday. (Photo: Ester Hakaala) NAMPA

OSHITAYI, 08 July 2026 - Ondangwa Urban Constituency Councillor Leonard Negonga address learners during the Ondangwa Urban Annual Constituency Culture Festival 2026 on Wednesday. (Photo: Ester Hakaala) NAMPA

NAMPA
BEIJING, 09 July 2026 - Director of Sinomine Group and Chief Executive Officer of Sinomine Tsumeb Smelter, Logan Lou Yonggang. (Photo: Isabel Bento) NAMPA

BEIJING, 09 July 2026 - Director of Sinomine Group and Chief Executive Officer of Sinomine Tsumeb Smelter, Logan Lou Yonggang. (Photo: Isabel Bento) NAMPA

NAMPA
GABORONE, 06 July 2026 - Southern African officials will meet in Johannesburg from 15 to 17 July to advance public spending efficiency through cost-benefit analysis. (Photo: Contributed) NAMPA.

GABORONE, 06 July 2026 - Southern African officials will meet in Johannesburg from 15 to 17 July to advance public spending efficiency through cost-benefit analysis. (Photo: Contributed) NAMPA.

NAMPA
NEW YORK, 07 July 2026 - Diene Keita, Executive Director of UNFPA. (Photo: Contributed) NAMPA.

NEW YORK, 07 July 2026 - Diene Keita, Executive Director of UNFPA. (Photo: Contributed) NAMPA.

NAMPA
WINDHOEK, 07 July 2026 - Ana Beatriz Martins, European Union (EU) Ambassador to Namibia. (Photo: Contributed) NAMPA

WINDHOEK, 07 July 2026 - Ana Beatriz Martins, European Union (EU) Ambassador to Namibia. (Photo: Contributed) NAMPA

NAMPA
GENEVA, 06 July 2026 - Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus, pictured with Chairperson of the PowerCom Board, Eldorette Harmse, Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Dr Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava; and Namibia's Ambassador to the Swiss Confederation and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Elvis Shiweda, during the Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday.

(Photo by: Josephina Simeon) NAMPA

GENEVA, 06 July 2026 - Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus, pictured with Chairperson of the PowerCom Board, Eldorette Harmse, Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Dr Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava; and Namibia's Ambassador to the Swiss Confederation and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Elvis Shiweda, during the Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday. (Photo by: Josephina Simeon) NAMPA

NAMPA
GUANGZHOU, 06 July 2026 - A car assembly line at the Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) car company. GAC is China’s state-owned automaker. Which manufactures vehicles under its own marques (GAC Motor and AION) and operates highly successful joint ventures with Honda and Toyota. With global reach across 86 regions, it is rapidly expanding into EVs and international production. (Photo by: Isabel Bento) NAMPA

GUANGZHOU, 06 July 2026 - A car assembly line at the Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) car company. GAC is China’s state-owned automaker. Which manufactures vehicles under its own marques (GAC Motor and AION) and operates highly successful joint ventures with Honda and Toyota. With global reach across 86 regions, it is rapidly expanding into EVs and international production. (Photo by: Isabel Bento) NAMPA

NAMPA