A German man wanted by Interpol for alleged drug trafficking was intercepted at OR Tambo International Airport. (Gallo Images)
A German man wanted by Interpol for alleged drug trafficking was intercepted at OR Tambo International Airport. (Gallo Images)

•     A German man wanted by Interpol for alleged drug trafficking was intercepted at OR Tambo International Airport.
•     The man has been on the run for eight years, according to South Africa's Border Management Authority.
•     He was found to be travelling with a fraudulent Israeli passport, according to police.

A German man who was on Interpol's most wanted list for alleged drug trafficking was arrested during a routine border operation at OR Tambo International Airport on Friday.

According to South Africa's Border Management Authority (BMA), the man was on the run for eight years.

He travelled from South Africa to Turkey, allegedly on a fraudulent Israeli passport, but was sent back to South Africa, where BMA officials realised that he had a German accent even though he insisted he was an Israeli national.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) confirmed from the Israeli Embassy that the man was not an Israeli national.

"Interpol was contacted and the suspect was found to be on the red list of the most wanted and had evaded arrest for drug trafficking for the past eight years," BMA commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato said.

"The suspect was also found to have an international warrant of arrest and had been living in Malawi under a new identity and in possession of a Malawian temporary residence. He was found to have travelled under the German and Israeli passports and also suspected to have stolen the Israeli identity."

Interpol immediately arrested the man, and he is still in custody awaiting extradition to Germany, Masiapato added.

"This interception underscores the critical role the BMA plays in safeguarding South Africa's ports of entry and collaborating with international security agencies to combat transnational crime. Our robust systems and partnerships with Interpol and other global entities have proven indispensable in protecting our nation's security and integrity."

This apprehension "sends a clear message that South Africa's ports are fortified against individuals who seek to exploit them for illegal purposes", Masiapato added.

Masiapato and executive director of Interpol NCB Pretoria, Brigadier Ntime Mokhine, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Pretoria on Thursday to reflect their commitment to enhancing the security of South Africa's ports of entry.