Two women have been arrested in recent days in connection with drug charges. The one arrest was in Cape Town on Saturday, and the other arrest was carried out on Friday at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

Two women were arrested in connection with drugs

Constable Ndakhe Gwala says the woman who was taken into custody over the weekend is 62 years old. She says officers attached to Operation Lockdown III had detained the elderly woman in Bishop Lavis for selling liquor without a license and for possession of drugs.

“The members were doing their routine patrols in Lark Road on Saturday 27 June 2026, at around 01:00,” she added. Gwala says they noticed people coming out of the suspect’s house with liquor. “They went inside and found the suspect trading, and a further search revealed 14 sachets of cocaine,” the constable elaborated. She says the suspect was arrested. Police seized a total of 144 beers and an undisclosed amount of cash.

Another dug mule was also taken into custody

Meanwhile, another drug mule was also taken into custody in Johannesburg. SAPS’ Lieutenant Colonel Vincent Mukhathi says officers had intercepted and arrested a 23-year-old South African woman on Friday, 26 June 2026. She is facing charges of dealing in drugs. The woman was detained at OR Tambo International Airport.

“At the time of her arrest, the suspect had released 28 suspected drug-filled capsules. The process is ongoing under strict medical supervision, and the recovered exhibits have been booked into the SAPS exhibit management system for forensic analysis.”

The suspect has released 28 suspected drug-filled capsules

Mukhathi says the suspect was identified by Border Police after they had received information about her. He says the suspect was taken for medical examination, where X-rays confirmed the presence of suspected drug-filled capsules inside her body.

“The street value and exact type of the suspected narcotics will be determined once forensic testing has been completed.”

A charge of dealing in drugs

The Lieutenant Colonel elaborated that preliminary probes indicate that the suspect had travelled on a domestic route before attempting to continue on an international flight. He says she was intercepted upon her return to OR Tambo International Airport before boarding a direct flight to Tokyo. She will appear in court on a charge of dealing in drugs.

“SAPS remains committed to disrupting transnational drug trafficking networks and preventing illicit substances from entering or leaving South Africa through its ports of entry.”