Man at border with drugs worth R32m

A 63-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested at the Lebombo border post as he allegedly attempted to smuggle drugs from Mozambique into the country.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Leonard Hlathi said the Mozambican national was scheduled to appear in the Komatipoort Magistrate’s Court today facing charges of possession of drugs. “According to information received, the suspect was travelling from Mozambique to South Africa when his vehicle was stopped for processing by members from the SAPS and the SA Revenue Service’s (Sars) customs unit during a joint routine operation,” said Hlathi.

He said that when the man’s vehicle, a double-cab bakkie, was searched, 136kg of suspected heroin as well as 19kg of suspected crystal meth worth a combined value of about R32 million was allegedly found.

“The drugs were stashed underneath charcoal which was loaded at the back of the bakkie.”