Drugs worth R 17.4m found in two bakkies

A ROUTINE check led to the seizure of drugs with a street value of R17.4-million when police searched two vehicles outside Cradock.

The Mandrax tablets and dagga found were thought to have been destined for Port Elizabeth.

Police first found the dagga, with a street value of R1.4-million, in a bakkie on Saturday night.

Minutes later, another bakkie was stopped and searched and mandrax tablets, valued at R16-million, were found hidden inside.

Police spokeswoman Brigadier Marinda Mills said officers stopped the first bakkie at 11.30pm.

“The officers from Cradock stopped a white Toyota Hilux bakkie travelling in the direction of Port Elizabeth, and on the back found 23 bags of dagga, with a total weight of 486.2kg,” Mills said.

Two men, aged 25 and 27, were arrested and the bakkie was confiscated.

While still on the scene, a second bakkie – a white Mitsubishi Colt – was stopped after police noticed the canopy on it was too small.

“Due to poor light on the scene, they decided to continue the search at the station and found a hidden compartment in the canopy,” Mills said.

Inside, 200 000 mandrax tablets were found, neatly packaged in plastic bags.

A man, 45, was held and the bakkie confiscated.