Publications
- Mpumalanga police have confiscated more than R800 000 worth of dagga in three separate incidents.
- Four people were arrested in two of the incidents and one was fined R50 000.
- Some of the dagga was found abandoned on the streets.
Dagga worth R800 000 was confiscated in three separate incidents in Mpumalanga, resulting in the arrests of four people.
Some of the dagga was found abandoned on the streets.
At about 05:30 on Thursday, police at the Oshoek Bridge Port of Entry in Mpumalanga stopped a truck travelling from Eswatini.
Provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, said two men were in the truck at the time.
How safe is your neighbourhood? Find out by using News24's CrimeCheck
"Police searched the truck where nine plastic bags stuffed with dagga weighing 83.2kg were discovered.
"That was when the two were arrested, while the dagga was confiscated. The two were charged for dealing in dagga,” said Mohlala.
When they appeared in the Chief Albert Magistrate's Court on Thursday, the 39-year-old driver was released.
However, the passenger – 26-year-old Milton Sibanda – pleaded guilty and was fined R50 000 or four years' imprisonment, Mohlala said.
In a separate incident on Wednesday, at around 16:30, police at the Waverley Port of Entry conducted a routine patrol on the D26 road, about 10km from the border.
They stopped and searched a white Nissan NP200 bakkie with two occupants and found dagga that had been compressed and wrapped. The dagga weighed over 180kg and had an estimated street value of R791 000.
"Motlalepula Samuel Mollo, 59, and Nere Samuel Moloi, 59, were both arrested and charged for dealing in dagga," Mohlala said.
READ | Cape Town police net 3 suspects found with crayfish worth over R9m
"The pair also appeared in the Chief Albert Luthuli Magistrate's Court, where their case was postponed to Wednesday 29 March for a formal bail application. The two were remanded in custody."
In a third incident, police recovered 23kg of dagga, wrapped in a big plastic bag, in Emahlathini, valued at around R35 000. It is believed the consignment had been abandoned.
Acting provincial police commissioner, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, said: "Police will continue to work hard and ensure that no single place in the province is used for drug trafficking."
