Drugs — South Africa
What travelers need to know about drugs in South Africa. What is legal at home can be a serious crime here — each rule links to its official source.
Drugs in South Africa: prohibited — what is legal at home can be a serious crime here.
Expect a long jail sentence and heavy fines for possessing, using or smuggling illegal drugs in South Africa — including while merely transiting an airport, where transit baggage is scanned. Narcotic and habit-forming drugs in any form are strictly prohibited from import.
UK FCDO: "You should expect a long jail sentence and heavy fines for possessing, using or smuggling illegal drugs, including when transiting through the airport." No number of years and no fine amount is published on the FCDO or SARS pages read this run.
§ UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office — South Africa travel advice, Safety and security / Illegal drugs and cannabis laws (public_updated_at 2026-07-08); read with SARS Arrival in SA prohibited goods list (19/08/2026)Verified Aug 21, 2026