By: Staff  Reporter

 Police at the Mahamba Port of Entry have arrested a 30 year old male for dealing in dagga.

According to the report, police were conducting their normal duties when they stopped and searched an Isuzu bakkie with a trailer. The suspect pretended to be transporting an empty crate from the Kingdom of Eswatini to South Africa with the hope to hide his criminal activities.

During the search police notice an unusual item concealed underneath the trailer, which, upon searching, found twenty-one(21) rolls of compressed Dagga weighing 61,7 kilograms with an estimated street value of R400 000. Police also seized the vehicle for further investigation. 

Meanwhile in a separate incident, Police in Mayflower arrested a 29-year-old Eswatini national for dealing in dagga at the Waverley Port of Entry near Mayflower.

It is alleged that members of the police were conducting patrols near the border line at Esandleni when they noticed a suspicious vehicle and stopped it for inspection.

Upon stopping, three occupants of the vehicle reportedly alighted and opened fire on the police officers while attempting to flee the scene. Police returned fire, and one suspect was shot and apprehended. The other two suspects managed to escape and are still at large. The injured suspect was transported to hospital for medical treatment.

A search of the suspect’s vehicle led to the discovery of 166 packets of dagga weighing approximately 190.46 kilograms, with an estimated street value of R1.1 million.

Following medical treatment, the suspect was discharged and taken into custody. During the incident, a police vehicle sustained damage to the left front door due to gunfire from the fleeing suspects.

Mpumalanga acting provincial commissioner of the SAPS, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi has commended the police for their swift response in fighting crime.