The strategic deployment of law enforcement officers to curb the influx of illicit goods into the Western Cape had been dealt a heavy blow with the confiscation of drugs along the N1 near Beaufort West, estimated at more than R8 million in value.
On Wednesday, 12 April 2023 at about 18:00, an integrated team consisting of various police units and Provincial Traffic Officers conducted a static roadblock along the highway where they pulled over a truck. A provincial traffic officer who detected a strong scent of dagga and alerted the team at the roadblock who ensued with a search of the truck.
They then discovered and confiscated 22 bags of dagga weighing 1 ton with an estimated street value of R8 million. The driver of the vehicle was arrested in connection with the find.
The accused, Petrus Nene (42), believed to be from Durban, made his first court appearance in the Beaufort West Magistrates’ Court. He was remanded in custody and the matter postponed.
Furthermore, investigation in an unrelated incident on 14 April 2023, indicates that at about 00:40 Provincial Traffic officials conducted a routine inspection when they found 15 parcels of dagga in a minibus taxi. An undocumented person was arrested on a charge of dealing in drugs. He is yet to appear in court.
Later the same day, 14 April 2023, at about 02:00, members of the George Public Order Police conducted a search of a Volkswagen Golf GTI at a Truck Port along the N1. The search of the vehicle led to the confiscation of 40 kilogram of dagga estimated at a value of R50 000. Police arrested two occupants of the vehicle, aged 35 and 44, on a charge of possession of drugs.
These three suspects remains in police custody. They will appear in court once charged.
Western Cape Provincial Detectives attached to the narcotic section are investigating the three cases dockets.
The arrested and confiscations forms part of concerted efforts by police to eradicate drug trafficking along highways, byways and secondary roads in the province. Western Cape police management had nothing but praise for the law enforcement officers deployed along the N1 for these arrests and confiscation of the significant amount of drugs.
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