Cape Town - Three men aged 39, 42 and 47 will appear in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court today after they were arrested for transporting a consignment of cocaine valued at over R400 million.
The three suspects were apprehended during an operation by SAPS Crime Intelligence, the Hawks and the Western Cape Traffic Department.
The suspects had been travelling in a truck en-route to Cape Town when their vehicle containing sealed bags of cocaine was stopped and searched.
Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani, said: “An operation was organised on the N1 freeway and the truck was spotted at Winelands Engen garage travelling towards Cape Town.
“The vehicle was intercepted and a search was conducted wherein a large quantity of drugs was found hidden in false wooden boards at the back of the truck,” Hani said.
Community Safety MEC Reagen Allen said that while the department welcomed the arrest, they would like to see the suspects denied bail and given hefty sentences.
“These drugs are an evil in our society, which should at all times be removed. This illicit flow has been greatly disrupted and this is pleasing. Drugs destroy people’s lives, and also lead to various other crimes, including murder.
“The known drug houses in the Cape metro will now have less of an opportunity to destroy another person’s life. I call on the SAPS and all other law enforcement agencies to also actively work towards eradicating and closing down these so-called known drug houses. They have no place in our communities,” Allen said.
Elsewhere, an intelligence-driven operation in George led to the arrest of 53-year-old suspect who will appear in court once charged for possession of drugs.
Police spokesperson Christopher Spies said: “This search led to the confiscation of 166g of tik, 100 mandrax tablets and a small quantity of cocaine. Police confiscated the drugs, estimated at R48 500, and a small scale.”