The Hawks have arrested a truck driver and two other people after discovering heroin to the value of R87 million in a hidden truck compartment in Richards Bay, north of KwaZulu-Natal.
The Hawks and detectives from the Richards Bay Serious Organised unit stopped the truck in Hluhluwe enroute to KwaZulu-Natal.
Three men, including the driver of the truck were arrested when the truck was stopped.
Hawks spokesman, Captain Simphiwe Mhlongo said that Hawks officers in Richards Bay in collaboration with the Mpumalanga Crime Intelligence discovered 342.5 kg of the drug inside what is believed to be a purpose built hide in a truck which was coming from Mozambique via Swaziland to KwaZulu-Natal.
“The truck was intercepted in Hluhluwe and the team immediately started with the search. Almost 250 packets of heroin were found hidden in a false partition which was newly painted. Members had to cut open the compartment in order to access the drugs,” Mhlongo said.
Almost 250 packets of heroin were found hidden in a false partition which was newly painted.
The driver and two passengers were immediately placed under arrest they will appear in court soon.
The National Head of the DPCI Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya has welcomed the arrest and seizure of the drugs which would have generated a hefty amount of profit for criminals who are involved in the drug supply.
“It is worrisome to imagine as to how many lives were going to be wasted through addiction and crime triggered by the use of these hard core dependence producing substances,” said Lieutenant General Lebeya.
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