Gregory Craig Ayres (45) and Valeri Nikolov (41), both listed their residential addresses in Durban. Their arrest follows a joint operation by the Crime Intelligence and Hawks police units.

The men were travelling in a single cab pick up that belongs to a courier company. In the back of the bakkie, several black containers with bubble-wrap envelopes were found.

Police discovered that the first container had envelopes filled with blank A4 paper. The second container was a different story. It is estimated that each envelope contained at least 5 000 ecstasy tablets with a street value of R30.

A total of 141 bags were booked into police records and the pills were sent away for forensic testing.

Shortly after their arrest, a police unit in Durban clamped down on a house in Westville, Durban. Another three men were arrested and chemicals believed to be used in manufacturing drugs were seized.

Police alleged that Ayres and one of the men arrested in Durban are business partners. They are said to own several clubs, one in Florida Road and one in Musgrave area in Durban.

Ayres and Nikolov face a charge of possession or use. They appeared in the Middelburg court on Wednesday and remains in custody until their next appearance.

Lt. Genl. Solomon Makgale said that the names of the men arrested in Durban cannot be made public because they have not appeared in court yet.