A woman found in possession of crystal cocaine with an estimated street value of R17 million was arrested on Tuesday at Beit Bridge Border Post.

A national spokesperson for the South African Revenue Service (SARS), Mrs Marika Muller, confirmed the arrest of the woman. “The drugs were found concealed in a bag of surgical equipment kits being brought into the country by the woman,” said Muller.

The woman was, according to information supplied, travelling from Blantyre in Malawi to Johannesburg. The woman first tried to fool a SARS official who was doing a routine check of the bus, by showing him a sample of a surgical kit which appeared to be genuine.  

"However, on checking the remaining kits, the customs officer found a crystalline substance at the bottom of all the kits, which had been concealed by the surgical instruments."

The woman and the drugs were handed over to the police. She was expected to appear in the Musina Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.