Two Zimbabwean nationals have been remanded in custody after police uncovered 200 kilograms of compressed dagga valued at approximately R1,2 million during a roadside stop on the N2 near Mahamba in Mpumalanga.
The accused, Tinashe Chitsamba (40) and Oscar Mutsetemari (45), appeared before the Mkhondo Magistrate’s Court on Friday morning on charges of dealing in dagga and contravention of immigration laws.
According to police, officers from Mahamba Police Station were conducting routine crime-prevention patrols at around 20:35 on 04 December 2025 when they stopped a truck occupied by the pair. Upon searching the vehicle, authorities discovered six large bags of compressed dagga concealed in the second trailer from their tautliner superlink.
The suspects reportedly informed police that they were travelling from Empangeni and heading to Zimbabwe. They allegedly admitted that the load was picked up at Tshelejuba on the KwaZulu-Natal side of Mahamba, before attempting to move it across the province.
Read | Truck Driver Arrested in Limpopo for Transporting Dagga Worth R15 Million
The pair were arrested on the spot for dealing in dagga and detained as illegal immigrants, while police seized the narcotics and impounded the truck for further forensic and investigative analysis.
The haul, estimated to weigh 200kg, carries a street value of about R1,2 million, authorities confirmed.
Following their court appearance, Chitsamba and Mutsetemari were remanded in custody. They are expected to return to court on 28 January 2026, pending ongoing investigations.
Police reaffirmed their commitment to disrupting cross-border drug trafficking operations and applauded the vigilant officers whose routine patrol led to the major seizure.
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