Four suspects appear in Piet Retief Magistrate’s Court over dagga cases
Authorities confiscated vehicles and large quantities of cannabis during separate law enforcement actions near Eswatini.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has intensified efforts to combat drug-related crime in the Mahamba policing precinct, resulting in four suspects appearing before the Piet Retief Magistrate’s Court on charges linked to dealing in dagga.
A 47-year-old woman, Phelelisiwe Siphiwe Zwane, was arrested on June 22 at the Mahamba Port of Entry after police discovered 12 rolls of dagga weighing approximately 29.90kg, valued at an estimated R180 000, in a Mercedes-Benz travelling from Eswatini.
The vehicle was confiscated and the case was postponed to July 1 for further investigation.
In a separate case, Vezi Robert Mabaso (50), Mpendulo Shabalala (30) and Nkosinathi Khumalo (39) appeared in court after a joint SANDF and SAPS operation on June 20.
Officers stopped a Volkswagen sedan on the N2 Road and recovered 16.25kg of dagga valued at more than R100 000. The matter was postponed to July 8.
SAPS said it remains committed to combating drug trafficking and related crimes across the region.
Read more about how the dagga was concealed, the quantities recovered and the ongoing investigations in the Highvelder’s printed edition.
