Planes cleared amid suspicions of arms cargo
The South African Revenue Services has denied any knowledge of suspicious arms having been found on Saudi Arabian planes stationed at the Polokwane International Airport.
“Any firearms that may have been found would have been administered under [a] permit by the South African Police Service. Further queries with regard to firearms must be directed to the South African Police Service,” SARS spokesman Sandile Memela said on Thursday.
This, after allegations were made that customs officials had confiscated arms from 106 Saudi Arabians, which has been at the Limpopo airport since last Friday.
Four flights – including a cargo plane with a fleet of vehicles – landed at the airport, a day after local air traffic control allegedly refused them permission to land, citing a lack of necessary authorisation.
One of the flights, it is alleged, was carrying a Saudi prince, who is yet to be named.
According to sources, when the Saudi flights were eventually permitted to land on the Friday, sniffer dogs reportedly uncovered goods, which allegedly included “suspicious” arms and ammunition.
SARS confirmed a Saudi plane landed with passengers, who were cleared with their goods by customs officials, but would not be drawn to shed any light on what they found.
“We wish to confirm that a total of four different flights carrying 106 passengers arrived with the prince on Friday, 12 February 2016,” SARS spokesman Sandile Memela told the African News Agency (ANA).
“Normal customs clearance processes were followed including scanning and checking all goods and bags deemed to be suspicious by detector dogs. They were all in possession of proper documentation.”
Memela said SARS could not comment on allegations that arms had been found on the plane.
The South African State Security Agency also declined to comment.
SARS Customs Control officials did not compromise any of the processes and made sure that all the controls were in place and due revenue was collected.”
The Saudis and their crew drove off from the airport on their own fleet and escorted out of the airport.
Sources close to the police and airport told ANA that arms were confiscated and kept by port of entry police at the airport.
“All fire arms that were not registered with the police service were seized but passengers and pilot were allowed,” said a source close to state security.
Another source said it is not the first time that the crew landed at the airport with questionable arms.
“In 2014, they landed with guns also, a meeting was held and they were allowed to drive out of airport with their arms, it is like they are undermining the authority here,” said the source who cannot be named.
Approached for comment, Hawks and police services refused to comment on the confiscated arms.
“It is an operational matter that the Hawks refuse to comment on,” said Hawks spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi on Thursday.
Provincial Transport spokesman Kagiso Moatane and Polokwane International Airport Chief executive officer Thulani Zulu also refused to comment.
The fleet is still at the airport, but there whereabouts of the crew and pilot is not clear.