The driver of truck ferrying coal from Zambia found himself in handcuffs after being arrested with 500 kilograms of cannabis hidden in bags shortly before 06:00 this morning.

A dog handler out on patrol at the Samancor Ferrometals truck-stop noticed the Mercedes Benz truck entering the truck-stop around 05:43 this morning.

The handler saw two males lifting the truck’s covers at the back, and observed both men removing bags from the cargo hold.

The handler called the shift supervisor who immediately showed up with two other dog handlers.

The supervisor and handlers confronted the truck driver and opened one of the bags, which was stuffed with cannabis.

Police were called and the driver, a citizen of the Kingdom of eSwatini, was arrested on the spot.

The cannabis was then taken to Samancor Ferrometal’s weigh-bridge tipping the scale on 500 kilograms estimated to be worth R500 000.