According to Sgt Peace Mbokane, Elukwatini police spokesman, the success came as a result of a joint operation between South African National Defence Force members deployed at Zonstraal Military Base outside Elukwatini and the local police.

“The members were out conducting a stop and search at a vehicle check-point when a taxi from Ekulindeni township was stopped. The commuters in the taxi were requested to get off, each with their luggage, so that they could be searched. A Swazi male, Sabelo Nkosinathi Siwela (32) was found with a blue bag containing two plastic bags of compressed dagga,” said Mbokane.

He said the dagga was weighed and found to be 2,6 kilograms. Its street value was estimated at
R2 500.

“One of the plastic bags was sealed with tape. Siwela told the police that he was taking the dagga to Mbombela to deliver it to a loyal client,” added Mbokane.

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Mbokane said Siwela tried to request the men in blue to let him off as it was his first attempt at a delivery, and most of his clients collect directly from his home of Ndzingeni in Swaziland.

He said dealers often cross the border between the two countries illegally to smuggle cannabis through the Elukwatini area.

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“The festive season is the busiest time for their business, and we are also doing our utmost to counter the evil they attempt to import into our country. We hope that this arrest will send a message to other would-be dealers. We are more than ready for the festive season, and if they don’t believe that, there is lots of room in the cells to confirm it,” concluded Mbokane.

Siwela appeared in the Eerstehoek Magistrate’s Court on Monday charged with dealing in dagga.

His verdict was unknown at the time of going to print.