A 42-year-old truck driver has been arrested after authorities found Khat hidden inside the trailer boot of his vehicle during a vehicle checkpoint on the N1 in the Central Karoo.
The bust, which occurred on Tuesday, 15 October 2024, at around 15:20, resulted in the seizure of Khat bundles valued at an estimated R89 000.
The police, acting on a tip-off, pulled over the truck en route from Johannesburg to Cape Town.
According to a police report, the search revealed five boxes inside the driver’s compartment, containing 890 bundles of Khat, a stimulant commonly used in parts of East Africa and the Middle East.
In a statement, Police Spokesperson Lt Col Malcolm Pojie said,
“The strategic deployment of our members along the entry and exit routes to and from the province to curb the lucrative drug trade proved to be successful. Members attached to the Central Karoo K9, in collaboration with Crime Intelligence, George DPCI, and the Central Karoo Flying Squad, acted on information which led to the arrest of a suspect in connection with the discovery of Khat.”
The driver was immediately arrested on charges of dealing in drugs.
Read | Truck Driver Nabbed on N1 Near Laingsburg Transporting Drugs Worth R4 Million
He appeared in the Beaufort West Magistrates’ Court the following day, on Wednesday, 16 October 2024. The court has postponed the case to Monday, 21 October 2024, for a bail application, and the accused will remain in custody until then.
This operation forms part of ongoing efforts by law enforcement to clamp down on drug trafficking through the province.
The N1 is a known drug route, and the Central Karoo K9 unit, together with Crime Intelligence, continues to make significant strides in intercepting drug shipments.
Authorities have vowed to continue their efforts to disrupt the drug trade, with Lt Col Pojie adding that this arrest highlights the success of their ongoing strategy.
“The dedication of our members and the effectiveness of intelligence-driven operations are vital in preventing drugs from reaching the streets,” he concluded.
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