N3 dagga bust

Police seized 131kg of dagga from three alleged drug dealers who were travelling on the N3. Photograph: SAPS

Dagga BUST: Police seize 131kg stash en route to Joburg

Police seized more than 130kg of dagga in a bust on the N3 and arrested three Bergville men for dealing in drugs on Tuesday night.

N3 dagga bust

Police seized 131kg of dagga from three alleged drug dealers who were travelling on the N3. Photograph: SAPS

Police have swooped on three alleged drug dealers and confiscated more than 130kg of dagga (marijuana) from their vehicle on the N3 freeway near Harrismith.

Freestate regional SAPS spokesperson, Colonel Thandi Mbambo, said that the three suspects, who are from Bergville in KwaZulu-Natal, had been arrested after they were found transporting bags of dagga on the N3 Highway in the neighbouring province. 

MbambPo said the police had swooped on the suspects at around 6.15pm on Tuesday night.

“At about 6:15pm the Harrismith Highway Patrol spotted a suspicious white Toyota Avanza with a GP registration traveling in the Johannesburg North bound lane,” Mbambi said.

She said police officers had stopped and searched the vehicle on the N3 near Intabazwe township.

“The vehicle, with three male occupants, was searched and the police noticed plastic bags loaded inside the vehicle,” Mbambo said.

Mbambo said police officers had then escorted the vehicle to the Harrismith police station for a further search. She said police had found a total of 38 bags containing dagga, weighing 131kg. 

Mbambo said the estimated street value of the seized marijuana amounted to more than R170 000.

“All three suspects aged 24, 27 and 39 were arrested and are expected to appear before the Harrismith Magistrate court on Thursday 19 August 2021,” Mbambo said.

The suspects are facing charges of dealing in dagga.

In an earlier success a joint collaboration between Harrismith and Ladysmith police led to the swift arrest of five suspects following an attack at a farm in Harrismith district. This was after suspects robbed a 54 year old man while he was home working in the store room. The suspects allegedly told him that they wanted to buy cattle and he told them that he did not sell cattle. One of the suspects allegedly held him up at gunpoint and they demanded money. The gang had then then pushed him into the house where they instructed him to open the safe.