JOHANNESBURG – Two Dutchmen were arrested this week at Johannesburg airport with suitcases full of drugs. Our compatriots, who were traveling separately, were found to have a total of eighty kilos of khat with them.
This was reported by the media in South Africa. The two Dutchmen, 59 and 21 years old, were on their way to the Netherlands and were supposed to have a transfer in Dubai. They were arrested at O.R. Tambo airport after fresh khat was found in their luggage, the Gauteng police reported.
This is a chewable drug – formally called catha edulis – with a stimulating effect that is particularly popular with certain African population groups.
Police spokesperson Amanda van Wyk said that the twenty-something tried to check in and board their flights on Tuesday and the fifty-something on Wednesday. “The suspects were subsequently arrested and are expected to appear in Kempton Park court soon.” Police say the total number of drug smugglers arrested at OR Tambo International Airport in recent weeks has reached 13.