A team of police, customs, and border officials intercepted five luggage bags containing 216 blocks of cocaine, weighing about 250 kilograms and with an estimated street value of more than R200 million, at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola commended the team, which was made up of the South African Police Service, the South African Revenue Service’s customs division, and the Border Management Authority.

“The significant seizure is a testament to the effectiveness of coordinated law enforcement efforts and the commitment of frontline officers to disrupting drug trafficking networks that seek to use South Africa’s ports of entry to move illicit substances,” the police said on Sunday.

“Over the past 24 months, a total of 116 drug mules have been arrested at OR Tambo International Airport. These arrests highlight the continued efforts by law enforcement agencies to detect and prevent the transportation of illicit drugs through South Africa’s borders,” the police said.