Drugs worth more than R400 000 confiscated in Upington

Some of the drugs that were confiscated this week in Upington, where two suspects were arrested for being in possession of drugs worth more than R400 000.

After a high-speed chase in the Upington area, police confiscated drugs with an estimated value of R356 800 and suspected stolen jewellery amounting to R35 000.

A 28-year-old foreign national suspect was arrested and is facing charges of dealing in drugs, resisting arrest, reckless and negligent driving and possession of suspected stolen goods, said Sgt Omphile Masegela of the Upington Corporate Communication Office.

Masegela said members of the Upington Border Police unit, Upington K9, and the ZF Mgcawu (ZFM) highway patrol responded to information of a vehicle allegedly transporting drugs to Upington on Wednesday, 18 January.

The vehicle was spotted and the driver attempted to escape, leading to the high-speed chase. However, the police managed to stop the vehicle.

The drugs, jewellery, an undisclosed amount of cash, and the vehicle were confiscated.

“The police in the ZFM District will continue to stamp down the authority of the state by squeezing the space for drug dealers to operate,” said Brig. Peet Coetzee, who also commended the swift response of members and their team work.

• In another unrelated incident in the ZFM District, the police arrested a 19-year-old woman on Tuesday, 17 January, for dealing in drugs in Rosedale, Upington. This follows after the police received information about suspected drugs on a specific premises in Rosedale. After a raid at the house, Tik with an estimated street value of R51 900 was confiscated.

The suspects in both cases will appear in court soon, said Masegela.