A suspect apprehended in connection with an E8 million dagga bust in Limpopo on Friday is expected to make his first appearance in the Tzaneen Magistrate’s Court today.
According to The Citizen, the 27-year-old male was arrested during a swift anti-smuggling operation that yielded an 851.85 kg of compressed dagga, which police strongly suspect originated from neighbouring Eswatini.
The dramatic seizure unfolded on Friday, May 30, when Limpopo police, acting on intelligence, initiated a search for a white Toyota Hilux bakkie suspected of transporting illicit drugs.
According to police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the intelligence specifically indicated that the dagga was being smuggled from Eswatini.
The vehicle, towing a trailer, was spotted at approximately 7 am along the R36 public road near the Mooketsi Weigh-bridge.
Upon stopping and searching the bakkie, officers discovered 42 bags of compressed dagga, with an estimated street value of R8 million.
The 27-year-old driver was immediately taken into custody after failing to provide a satisfactory explanation for the substantial load. Both the Toyota Hilux and the trailer used in the commission of the alleged crime were seized by authorities.
Police investigations are reportedly ongoing, and authorities have not ruled out the possibility of further arrests as they delve deeper into the drug syndicate responsible for this high-value shipment.
