A 63-year-old woman has been arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle an estimated R1.6 million worth of drugs through Cape Town International Airport.

The Hawks say the more than 3kg of heroin was found in her luggage, concealed in an inside structure.

The woman, an alleged drug courier, was en route to Europe. She was nabbed before boarding her Ethiopian Airlines flight.

The bust was made after a tip-off that a suspected drug courier had entered South Africa and would be taking drugs with her when she departs.

The suspect is set to appear in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on Monday on a charge of dealing in drugs.