FIVE airport employees were arrested at OR Tambo International Airport after being linked to drug trafficking.
Two of the suspects were employees of Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) and three others worked for companies operating at the airport.
They were arrested on Thursday, 16 November during a joint operation by ACSA and the Hawks.
Jabulani Khambule, regional general manager for the ACSA airport cluster, which includes OR Tambo International Airport, said the arrest was in connection with a consignment of drugs that was recently seized in Australia.
He said this was the first operation of its kind concerning transnational drug trafficking through OR Tambo International Airport, where a drug seized abroad was clearly linked to suspects in South Africa because they were involved.
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Khambule commended the Hawks and the ACSA team involved in the operation, pointing out that the ongoing collaboration between ACSA and law enforcement agencies continues to yield excellent results.
"As ACSA, we don't tolerate any form of criminal or unlawful behaviour by our employees or the employees of companies operating at any of our airports across the country.
"ACSA and the South African Police Service (SAPS) are committed to making our national key points, which include our airport network, safe for all our passengers," Khambule said.
He said that they have increased vigilance, especially as they move towards the festive season, which typically comes with an increase in illicit trafficking.
