A total of three suspects that were crossing into South Africa were nabbed by astute members from Border Policing and charged them for dealing in dagga on separate incidents.
In one of the incidents, members of the Police in Oshoek were performing their normal duties on Tuesday, 05 March 2024 around 05:30, when they stopped a silver Toyota Hilux with Gauteng registration number plates.
It was during this period when the men and women in Blue discovered dagga hidden somewhere next to the car's engine whilst some of the dagga was found concealed at the back of the rear passenger seat. If that was not enough, members managed to get some of the dagga stached in two of the vehicle's spare wheels. Those spare wheels were loaded at the back of the bakkie.
The dagga weighed at about 32,2 kg's with an estimated street value of about R135 240-00.
It was at this point when the 37-year-old man from the kingdom of Eswatini was arrested and charged for dealing in dagga.
The vehicle has also been confiscated as Police are convinced that it was used in the commission of crime.
The male suspect is expected to appear at the Elukwatini Magistrate’s Court soon facing a charge of dealing in dagga.
Meanwhile in another incident, a 45-year-old man, also from the Kingdom of Eswatini was apprehended on 04 March 2024 around 19h00 after the truck he was driving was found with dagga hidden in a compartment of the rear trailer. The truck was from the Kingdom of Eswatini and it was crossing into South Africa through the Oshoek Port of Entry.
The dagga weighed at about 13 kg's with an estimated street value of about R54 600-00. The truck as well as the dagga were confiscated. The man is expected to soon appear at Elukwatini Magistrate’s Court for dealing in dagga.
Members of the Police from Nerston Port of Entry were conducting their patrols duties at Vezunyawo on the R65 Road on 04 March 2024 around 13h30, when they caught a man in possession of dagga weighing at about 1,9 kg's. The man was arrested by these members and charged for dealing in dagga. The estimated street value of the dagga is at about R7 980.
The male suspect is expected to appear at the Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court on 06 March 2024 facing the said charges.
The SAPS management in Mpumalanga, has reassured the public that the borders are in the capable hands in terms of dealing with cross border crimes.