A 35-year-old Brazilian woman has been sentenced to jail for dealing in drugs.

The accused, Gleyiane da Silva, was sentenced at the Bellville Regional Court on Wednesday 8 July to a total of eight years, of which three years are suspended for a period of five years, the Hawks said.

Lt Col Siyabulela Vukubi spokesperson, said members of the Hawks received information in March 2025 that Da Silva boarded a flight from Brazil to South Africa. After searching her luggage at Cape Town International Airport discovered cocaine inside a sports bag.

“Further information revealed that she had swallowed bullets of cocaine which were later retrieved,” Vukubi said.

The estimated value of the drugs was over R500 000.

Vukubi said Da Silva pleaded guilty and was subsequently sentenced.

For contravening the Civil Aviation Act, she was sentenced to four years imprisonment, which was wholly suspended for five years, said Vukubi.

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