READ: Namibian Woman Sentenced to 8 Years for Drug Trafficking at OR Tambo International Airport

Kempton Park, South Africa – On July 2, 2025, the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court sentenced 30-year-old Namibian national Pauline Mbangula to eight years in prison for drug trafficking, with three years wholly suspended. The sentencing follows her arrest on September 22, 2024, at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, shortly after arriving from São Paulo, Brazil.

Mbangula was apprehended by the South African Police Service (SAPS) after authorities discovered she had ingested 68 bullet-shaped packets containing cocaine. A medical examination confirmed the presence of the drugs in her stomach, and she was subsequently made to expel them. At the time of her arrest, Mbangula claimed she had been deceived by a man she recently met, who lured her to Brazil under the pretense of a holiday. Upon arrival, she alleged she was coerced into swallowing the drugs and trafficking them to South Africa.

The SAPS has issued a warning to young women to remain vigilant against drug trafficking syndicates, highlighting the severe consequences of such criminal activities. This case marks one of over 22 drug mule arrests at OR Tambo International Airport in the past year, underscoring the heightened alertness of law enforcement at this major port of entry.

The successful interception of Mbangula’s trafficking attempt demonstrates the ongoing efforts by SAPS to combat drug-related crime in South Africa. Authorities continue to urge the public to report suspicious activities to help curb the operations of international drug syndicates.