Police seize drugs worth more than R3.4 million, three suspects arrested

Three suspects aged between 25 and 45 were arrested for being in possession of an assortment of drugs worth more than R3.4 million in Upington in the Northern Cape, police said.

Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) spokesperson Nomthandazo Mnisi said the trio was arrested on Monday during a disruptive operation by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigating Unit, Upington K9 and Upington border police.

Mnisi said the team received information regarding drugs being transported inside a bus and they immediately launched an operation and intercepted the bus and recovered the consignment.

“The assortment of drugs that includes dagga, tik (crystal meth) and mandrax tablets worth more than R3.4 million were recovered during a search and seizure operation,” Mnisi said.

The three suspects are expected to appear on Wednesday at the Upington Magistrate’s Court for dealing in drugs.

– African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Lindiz van Zilla

American drug bust

It has not been a profitable couple of weeks for drug smugglers it would seem.

Earlier in June, American officials confiscated around 16 tonnes of cocaine at a port in Philadelphia in what was potentially the biggest drug bust in the country’s history.

“This is one of the largest drug seizures in United States history,” tweeted William McSwain, the US attorney for the Eastern District of Philadelphia.

“Members of the ship’s crew have been arrested and federally charged following the drug bust at Philadelphia’s Packer Marine Terminal.”

Yesterday, I boarded the MSC Gayane with Chief of Narcotics Karen Marston, Deputy Chief Jerome Maiatico, PIO @jen_crandall and @ICEgov officials to visit the crime scene where approximately 16 tons of cocaine was seized. pic.twitter.com/RiN9auiABz

— US Attorney William M. McSwain (@USAttyMcSwain) June 19, 2019

– Additional reporting by Nick Krige