NELSPRUIT – A 51-year-old suspect is expected to appear before the Komatipoort Magistrate’s Court tomorrow following his arrest yesterday, Wednesday 10 June 2020, at Lebombo Border Post for possession of suspected Heroin worth an estimated value of R1.5 million, hidden in the engine compartment of the truck he was driving.
The arrest came when members of both South African Police Service and the South African Revenue Services (Customs) were conducting a multidisciplinary operation at the border as part of their normal duties when a white truck from Mozambique, made a stop at the border waiting to be processed. Upon noticing the truck, both formations (SAPS and SARS) conducted a routine search as per their responsibilities and discovered a makeshift compartment in the truck’s engine, stashed with suspected drugs as well as illicit cigarettes.
The preliminary probe suggests that the driver was planning to smuggle the drugs as well as the illicit cigarettes from Mozambique into the country before being intercepted by the said diligent formations. A similar incident occurred last month 25 May 2020, where a man and a woman were arrested for also attempting to smuggle drugs from Mozambique into the country using a similar method but were swiftly arrested.
The arrest of the truck driver has once again proved that security agencies, SAPS, SANDF CUSTOMS as well as Traffic, are hard at work, in trying to address all crimes in general whilst enforcing Lockdown regulations at the same time. There has been good reports coming from the borderline where the SANDF in particular have been very instrumental in the confiscation of large amounts of liquor and illicit cigarettes, as well as the arrest of a considerable number of suspects thus far.
The Provincial Commissioner has applauded the law enforcement officers for their hard work and vigilance at the border which led to the arrest of the suspect. The General has also sent out a stern warning to those who are thinking or planning on smuggling drugs as well as illicit cigarettes, that law enforcement agencies are hard at work and will ensure that no illegal goods go through our borders. “I would also like to appreciate the work done by the members which resulted in the arrest of this man and others in previous incidents, their work does not go unnoticed, ” said General Zuma.
Meanwhile, the suspect will appear at the Komatipoort Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 12 June 2020, facing charges of possession of drugs and illicit cigarettes. Police cannot rule out the possibility of charging the man with an additional charge of dealing in drugs.
