The West Rand District Police held an operation with traffic officers on the R24 and New Thorndale Road on Thursday, 10 October.
The operation was led by Captain Kgomotso Mathhata and formed part of the O Kae Malao provincial operation.
The police and traffic officers set up a roadblock on the R24. Their stop and search operations led to them pulling over a taxi that was travelling from Johannesburg to Rustenburg, transporting 22 people. They searched the vehicle and found a box that was sealed with sellotape, according to a statement from Constable Gloria Maswanganye, spokesperson for the Hekpoort Police.
When police opened the box, they found it was filled with a drug named Miraa (also known as Khat). The statement said that the taxi-driver told the police that the box belonged to a man from Rustenburg.
The 32-year-old driver and the 34-year-old owner of the box were arrested. The driver was charged with possession of drugs and the owner was charged with dealing in drugs. The roadblock also yielded numerous traffic fines and a 28-year-old undocumented person was arrested.
According to the statement, the district commander, Major General Kekana, applauded the team for their vigilant and positive response. All the suspects who were arrested will appear in the Krugersdorp Magistrates’ Court.
