The South African Police Service (SAPS) in Mpumalanga has made a major breakthrough with the apprehending of a 23-year-old man with about R4,583,370 worth of suspected cocaine on the N4 freeway during a minor accident in Valencia near Nelspruit on Thursday afternoon.
According to a police report, a white KIA bakkie pulling a trailer was traveling on the N4 road. The trailer somehow broke from the truck, resulting in a slight accident.
Minor accident caused the spillage of white powder
Police from Nelspruit SAPS attended the accident scene. Upon arrival they discovered that the courier vehicle had spilled about eight crates of a white powder.
Members became suspicious and called their counterparts from the K9 Unit. They also called members from Directorate for Priority Crime Investigative (DPCI) Unit.
Substances found, weighing at about 11kg and suspected to be cocaine, became the subject of a police investigation.
An inquiry was opened and all the confiscated substance was to undergo tests while the driver was taken in for further questioning.
Police believe the consignment could have been on its way to places in the Gauteng province. However, investigators will share more light as the probe continues.
Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant-General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, commended the police. She commended the members for their vigilance. Manamela reiterated a call for members of the public to work hand in hand with the police in the fight against crime.
Major drug busts
Statistics from the SAPS have revealed that between October and December 2023, four major drug busts were registered. Three were at the Durban Harbour, where cocaine worth R300-million was seized in separate incidents.
The most recent and biggest drug bust during this period was for cocaine worth R151-million on December 4, 2023. The fourth drug bust was at the Gqerberha Sea Port, where cocaine worth R65-million was seized.
In this period, R800-million worth of drugs were destroyed in Gauteng. These were drugs collected during policing operations across the country.
Fifteen clandestine drug laboratories were shut down. A total of 21 suspects were arrested for drug-related charges, including manufacturing and dealing in drugs.
Police intelligence structures are hard at work in preventing and putting a stop to the drug trade in the country and beyond, said the SAPS.Â
- SAnews.gov.za
