Woman who smuggled R870k in drugs from Brazil sentenced to eight years

The Bellville Magistrate’s Court sentenced a drug mule to eight years’ direct imprisonment on Tuesday, 20 September. Cavalcante Amarante was arrested earlier this year after being caught attempting to smuggle drugs into the country.

WOMAN DRUG MULE SENTENCED

Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (Hawks) spokesperson Zinzi Hani said Amarante was arrested by the Hawks’ South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (SANEB) at Cape Town International Airport on 21 February 2022, after the unit received a tip-off about a drug mule travelling from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Qatar Airlines.

The woman was caught with 2.7 kilograms of cocaine and 200 grams of heroin concealed in her luggage and shoes. The drugs were worth an estimated R870 000.

“Amarante was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for dealing in drugs in terms of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act. Seven years of her sentence was suspended for a period of five years,” said Hani.

The accused will spend eight years in prison and was declared unfit to possession a firearm. Western Cape Hawks boss, Major-General Mathipa Makgato, welcomed the sentence handed to the woman.

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