36-year-old woman arrested at Bram Fischer airport with suspected drugs worth R300,000

A 36-year-old woman heading to Johannesburg was arrested at Bram Fischer International Airport after police allegedly found hundreds of stones suspected to be drugs hidden inside a hairdresser doll head.

The discovery was made on Saturday, 22 August 2026, at about 11:26, after an Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) supervisor alerted the Visible Policing Unit to suspicious material picked up by a scanning machine.

Police responded to the alert and were directed to the doll head, which belonged to the woman preparing to board her flight.

Suspected drugs hidden inside doll head

Members called in experts from the Local Criminal Records Centre to assist with processing the scene.

When the hairdresser doll head was opened, police allegedly found material concealed inside it, packed among foam.

According to police, 232 stones suspected to be rock, also known as crack cocaine, were recovered.

The suspected drugs are estimated to have a street value of about R300,000.

The discovery did not end there.

During a further search of the woman, police allegedly found R93,220 in cash in her possession.

She was immediately arrested.

Money laundering charge added

A case of possession of drugs, along with an additional charge of money laundering, was opened at Navalsig Police Station.

The case will now be investigated by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI).

The suspect is expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court soon.

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