Heroin, counterfeit goods bust at King Shaka airport

Heroin with a street value of R3.1 million, counterfeit clothes and illegal skin lightening cream were confiscated at the King Shaka International Airport on Thursday.

South African Revenue Service (SARS) officials and detector dogs intercepted the goods in three different incidents at the airport located in KwaZulu-Natal.

“In the first incident, a detector dog reacted positively to a parcel of mascaras travelling to Liberia. A physical inspection found 15.63 kg of heroine with street value of R3.1 million concealed in the lids of the mascara. This was handed over to SAPS for further investigation,” said the revenue service.

In the second incident, a shipment originating from Lagos destined for Durban and declared as “hair attachments”, was intercepted. The shipment was found to contain 2 469 kg of illegal skin lightening cream valued at R12.9 million. The shipment was detained.

“Finally, SARS officers intercepted a shipment of 7,380 shirts valued at over R6.2 million declared as ‘consolidation’ emanating from Hong Kong via Dubai and destined for Durban. Upon physical examination, the contents of the shipment were found to be branded football shirts suspected to be counterfeit. The shipment was detained for further investigation,” said SARS.