Durban – Three suspects are expected to appear in court in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape after they were arrested on drug-related charges on Saturday when police seized dagga and equipment worth R2.3 million.
The Eshowe Task Team intercepted a vehicle and arrested suspects transporting dagga with an estimated street value of R1.2m from Mpumalanga to KZN.
KZN police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Nqobile Gwala said that at about 3.30pm, officers of the Eshowe Task Team were patrolling around the R66 near Siza garage in Eshowe, northern KZN, after receiving a tip-off about suspects transporting dagga.
Gwala said that while the police were at Siza garage they spotted the two vehicles and tried to stop them, but the suspects sped off, and officers alerted Gingindlovu SAPS detectives to request back-up.
Police chased the vehicles and caught the suspects at Dokodweni, near KwaGingindlovu.
“One suspect fled on foot and police arrested two suspects aged 26 and 36.”
Gwala said the suspects were on their way from Piet Retief to Durban.
“The dagga weighed 346.6kg (with a) street value of R1.2m,” Gwala said.
She said the suspects were expected to appear in court on Monday.
Eshowe station commander Colonel DS Radebe applauded the task team for a job well done.
On Friday, the Western Cape police seized dagga and equipment with an estimated value of R1.1m.
Western Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Christopher Spies said police units conducted a clandestine operation at a premises in George where drugs and cultivating equipment with an estimated street value of R1.1m were confiscated. The team concluded a 3-month operation which began in June following a tip-off about illicit activities at the house.
Spies said a team including Western Cape Organised Crime investigators (narcotics section) and Garden Route District Intelligence and George Crime Prevention Unit members raided the premises in Stemmet Street, Blanco, where they discovered an indoor dagga cultivation laboratory.
“They confiscated 38 dagga trees, numerous containers and parcels of dried dagga, cultivating equipment as well as two cellphones found on the premises. The occupant of the premises was subsequently arrested on charges of cultivating and dealing drugs,” Spies said.
The 33-year-old suspect remains in custody. He was scheduled to appear in the George Magistrate’s Court on Monday, Spies said.
Daily News