Western Cape Hawks re-arrest drug mule after court no-show
Jacques Schoeman, a suspected drug mule, was re-arrested by the Western Cape Hawks after failing to appear in court.
Image: file
In a significant move against trafficking, the Western Cape Hawks' South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (SANEB) has apprehended Jacques Schoeman, an alleged drug mule after a warrant of arrest issued for his failure to appear in court.
The re-arrest took place on Wednesday, February 25, as authorities continue to crack down on illegal drug smuggling operations entering the country.
Schoeman's legal woes began in October 2025 when he was arrested at Cape Town International Airport. Acting on credible intelligence, SANEB officials intercepted Schoeman shortly after his arrival on a flight from Doha.
Lieutenant Colonel Siyabulela Vukubi of the Hawks, the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation said a thorough search of his luggage revealed a staggering amount of concealed cocaine, with an estimated street value exceeding R2 million.
The drugs' discovery shed light on the troubling trend of citizens being exploited as drug mules by international trafficking syndicates.
Following his initial arrest, Schoeman made his first court appearance on October 10, 2025 at the Bellville Magistrate's Court. Subsequently, he was granted bail amounting to R20 000 on October 16. However, the case saw a troubling turn of events when Schoeman failed to attend the scheduled court proceedings on January 20 2026, prompting the issuance of a warrant for his re-arrest.
"Schoeman was arrested by the Hawks during October 2025 at Cape Town International Airport, when members of SANEB received information regarding a South African citizen who was being used as a drug mule, bringing drugs into the country on a flight from Doha," Vukubi added.
"The information was operationalized and he was stopped and searched. Cocaine valued at over R2 million was found concealed in his luggage."
Now back in custody, Schoeman is scheduled to appear once again at the Bellville Magistrate's Court on February 26, where he will face the implications of his absence and the serious charges against him. The Hawks have reiterated their commitment to combatting drug trafficking and ensuring that offenders face the full extent of the law.
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