More than 60 000 Mandrax tablets found at Lebombo
The two suspects who were arrested at the Lebombo Border Post in possession of drugs worth R3 million on Sunday night, will be back in court tomorrow.
MALALANE – This is after they were remanded in police custody after their first appearance on Monday afternoon .
Mr Eliazaro Naene (41) and Mr Arlindo Adolfo (38) were arrested during a routine stop-and-search by police at the border post.
They were travelling in a truck which was entering South Africa from Mozambique, reportedly heading for Johannesburg.
When officers begun searching the vehicle, they noticed six sealed bags hidden in the back seat, which raised suspicion.
After opening them, police discovered that each bag contained drugs.
Further investigations were done with the use of a narcotic dog, which also reacted to the content in all the bags, which were then seized.
The packages were immediately weighed and tested and it was found to contain the drug Methaqualone, also known as Mandrax.
A total 66 000 tablets was uncovered, weighing 25 kilograms.
The suspects were taken into police custody and charged with possession and dealing in drugs.
SAPS provincial commissioner, Lt Gen Mark Magadlela, congratulated the police who were involved in this bust.
In light of the Lebombo Border Post’s bad reputation of being associated with being an entry point for drug smugglers and illegal immigrants, Magadlela said was possible to achieve more positive results such as these.
He said, “Our measures in curbing transnational crimes will bear fruit if stop-and-search actions are intensified.”
The police are currently pursuing leads to determine the scope of the duo’s involvement in other criminal activities not limited to South Africa.
They will be back in the dock in the Barberton Magistrate’s Court tomorrow.
