R3.6m worth of dagga seized

About R3.6m worth of dagga destined for Port Elizabeth has been confiscated by police.

The latest bust happened on Wednesday morning outside Makhanda (Grahamstown).

A total of eight people have been arrested.

Provincial commissioner LtGen Liziwe Ntshinga said the busts were the biggest in the province this year.

Police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender said: “It is alleged that at approximately 7am, K9 team Warrant Officer Jacques Adlem and Sergeant Melisa Adlem acted on information of narcotics being transported.

“They located a Nissan Quantum, as well as the lead vehicle, a VW Polo, next to the N2, close to Seven Fountains [near Makhanda],” she said.

“Upon searching the vehicle they discovered 46 large bags of dagga, weighing 980kg and worth an estimated street value of nearly R2m.”

Govender said six suspects, aged between 35 and 60, had been arrested.

“At this stage, it is unknown where the dagga is from as well as its destination,” she said.

The Quantum was, however, heading towards Port Elizabeth and all six men, according to police, live in Port Elizabeth.

This comes after two men transporting R1.6m worth of dagga on the R342 were arrested during a random stop-andsearch at 10.30pm on Tuesday.

The bust came after patrolling police spotted a silver Opel Zafira pulling a trailer on the R342 between Paterson and Addo.

Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said 29 bags of dagga, weighing almost a ton, had been found in the trailer and two men had been arrested.

“That route is used by traffickers trying to smuggle drugs and other items across the province,” he said.

The two are due to appear in the Alexandria Magistrate’s Court on Thursday and the other six in the Grahamstown Magistrate’s Court on Friday.