Crime Correspondent: Johannesburg

Glenn Agliotti ,Lesley 'Bob the America' Curtis ,Clinton Nassif, Christian Alblas ,Pedro Marques.,on trial in Joburg

One of the country's most high profile drug trials gets underway in Johannesburg today. The three men, accused of being members of an international smuggling syndicate, were arrested by the Scorpions in 2006 after the unit intercepted narcotics worth a quarter of a billion rand. Several co-accused including Glenn Agliotti and Clinton Nassif are expected to testify during the trial. Steve Paparas, his elderly father Dimitrio and Lenasia businessman Stanley Poonin are accused of using South Africa as a springboard for a global smuggling network. The syndicate is believed to have been operating since 1997 and has allegedly successfully made multiple shipments around the world, evading arrest on at least three continents. But it finally crumbled when Scorpions investigators probing the shady network around disgraced tycoon Brett Kebble came across the organisation. The Scorpions have witnesses queuing up to testify against the accused.They've all struck deals with the state accepting lesser sentences in exchange for their evidence. Amongst them is Agliotti, his former colleague Clinton Nassif, a major drugs kingpin Lesley 'Bob the America' Curtis and two South Africans Christian Alblas and Pedro Marques.

Glenn Agliotti ,Lesley 'Bob the America' Curtis ,Clinton Nassif, Christian Alblas ,Pedro Marques.,on trial in Joburg

One of the country's most high profile drug trials gets underway in Johannesburg today. The three men, accused of being members of an in...

OR Tambo International Airport R54-million worth of cocaine

About R54-million worth of cocaine, smuggled into the country from Brazil, was confiscated at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airp...

OR Tambo International Airport R54-million worth of cocaine

About R54-million worth of cocaine, smuggled into the country from Brazil, was confiscated at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday, police said. National police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Vishnu Naidoo said police in Sao Paulo, Brazil, notified South African authorities on Saturday that a plane heading to OR Tambo was carrying cocaine. "When the plane arrived at the airport, police searched it and found 120kg of cocaine valued over R54-million."He said the drugs were destined for Durban, according to a label on the box in which they were found in the cargo section.No arrest had been made, he said.Naidoo said it was not the first time that a large quantity of drugs of had been confiscated at the airport.Authorities at OR Tambo International Airport have made a multi-million rand drugs bust. Customs officials and police made the discovery at the cargo section of the airport earlier today, 122kg of suspected cocaine came in on a flight from Sao Polo in Brazil. The neatly packed narcotics were found in kit-bags, which were in turn stuffed in wooden crates. The smell of coffee emanates from the bags. Officials say smugglers sprinkled the coffee in the containers, to mask the smell of the drugs and to throw sniffer dogs off. But no dogs were even used in the bust, simply good all police work. Paperwork shows the crates contain machine parts, which was the case, but in between the parts, were the drugs. No arrests have been made.

OR Tambo International Airport R54-million worth of cocaine

About R54-million worth of cocaine, smuggled into the country from Brazil, was confiscated at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airp...