Pretoria
- SA Revenue Service (SARS) customs officials confiscated drugs to the value of almost R80 million at the Kopfontein border post with Botswana near Zeerust in North West on Saturday.
“Two foreign nationals have been arrested for drug smuggling and handed over to the police,” SARS said in a statement on Sunday.
“The bust happened when an empty truck was stopped for routine inspection. The customs detector dogs reacted positively to narcotics. It was found the truck had false compartments to stash away 141 packages of Mandrax. Thus 1 428 140 tablets worth R78 547 700 were confiscated.”
The two men, truck, and tablets were handed over to the SA Police Service (SAPS), SARS said.
In another statement later on Sunday, North West SAPS spokesman Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said the two foreign nationals were a Tanzanian and a Zambian, aged 42 and 37.
The suspects were arrested on Saturday evening. During the routine check, a false compartment was found and a grinder was used to open it.
“A total of 141 plastic bags, each one of them containing ten small packets, were found inside the compartment.
“The Hawks are investigating the case and the suspects are expected to appear in the Zeerust Magistrate’s Court soon,” Mokgwabone said.
North West police commissioner Lt-Gen Baile Motswenyane applauded the officers, saying police in the province would continue the fight against transnational crime, including drug trafficking.
– African News Agency