Mandrax haul found stuffed inside teddy
A MIDDLE-AGED woman raised police suspicions when she clung to a teddy bear while being asked to step out of her car at a road block on the N6 outside East London yesterday.
Her motives went beyond a childhood affection for the toy. Inside its “I love you” emblazoned chest were 237 Mandrax tablets.
“Our members found the sight of a 45-year-old woman carrying a teddy bear very suspicious. They took the teddy and opened it up,” said East London police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Hazel Mqala.
The woman and three men aged 44 to 48 were arrested and will be charged with possession of drugs, said Mqala. They are expected to appear in the East London Magist Court today.
Mqala said the suspects were arrested during a joint operation between Beacon Bay police and the provincial traffic department.
“This was part of the lockdown on the N6, N2 and R72. We arrested the suspects after we stopped and searched their car,” she said.
Mqala said when they ordered the four to step out of the car, the woman got out but held onto the teddy bear.
Mqala said the street value of the drugs was R14 220.
Mqala said the operation was an extension of a “very successful festive season operation”.
Mqala said fines worth R4 600 were issued in an operation which saw 114 cars stopped and 26 people searched.
A man was arrested on the R72 between East London and Port Alfred for possession of drugs after three money bags were found filled with dagga.
Mqala said 146 cars were stopped and 54 people searched. Traffic fines worth R3 500 were issued.
On the N2 between East London and King William’s Town five traffic fines worth R2 500 were issued after 21 people and 110 vehicles were searched. —