Customs officials at OR Tambo international airport have stopped five people from leaving South Africa for Dubai with R23 million rand and $3.7 million in cash stuffed into suitcases and backpacks.
SARS spokesman Luther Lubelo says the passengers were scheduled to depart South Africa on United Arab Emirates flight EK 766 to Dubai on Monday.
Risk profiling earlier by SARS custom officials identified the passengers, and led to their apprehension as they boarded the aircraft.
Lubelo said the five tried to run back to the boarding gate when they spotted SARS officials approaching them.
Under questioning, one of the passengers conceded that he had about 100-thousand rand in cash and that his fellow travelers were also carrying cash.
They were escorted back to the customs area and SARS officials confiscated 11 bags containing the currency.
Lubelo said the group was not arrested but SARS had handed the matter over to the SA Reserve Bank to determine whether there was any criminal link to the cash they were trying take on the flight.
