Middelburg - Two men have been arrested at the Middelburg Toll Plaza in Mpumalanga for possession of ecstasy tablets police valued at around R85 million.
The drugs were found on Tuesday night in a vehicle that a Bulgarian national and a Durban club owner were travelling in, said Lt-Gen Solomon Makgale on Wednesday.
The men, who were arrested during a joint operation by the National Crime Intelligence Unit, the National Investigation Unit (NINU), and the Hawks, were travelling on the N4 to Durban in KwaZulu-Natal at the time.
The joint operation team also arrested three other people at a house in Westville in KwaZulu-Natal for possession of chemicals used to manufacture drugs.
“They arrested the owner of the house and two of his employees,” said Makgale.
Precursor chemicals and powdered chemicals believed to be used in drug manufacturing were recovered at the house on Konigkramer Street.
Makgale said the Durban club owner and the owner of the Westville house were business partners.
“They own clubs on the famous Florida Road in Durban and in other parts of the Musgrave area in Durban.
“The drugs and chemicals are being sent for forensic analysis and, on completion of the analysis, charges will be determined and the suspects formally charged.”
Police could not immediately confirm when the owner of the house and his employees were arrested.
Sapa