The Volkrust Magistrate’s Court remanded lkemukwu Benjermin Ezirim (39) and Christian Valentine Uchenna (37) in custody after they were charged with dealing in drugs worth about R1.2m.

According to Mpumalanga News, the pair briefly appeared in court on Friday, where the case was postponed to Monday, December 9, for their bail application.

They were arrested at a house in Volksrust, Mpumalanga, on Thursday.

“The disruptive operation followed after information was received and operationalised by the team regarding suspects who were dealing in drugs,” says Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi, the provincial spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks).

When law enforcement officers arrived at the address, the suspects attempted to dispose of the evidence by flushing some of the alleged drugs down the toilet, adds Sekgotodi.

She says the suspects were arrested and taken to their vehicle where more drugs were discovered hidden in the body of the vehicle and the tyres.

During the search, it was also discovered that the suspects did not have valid documents to be in the country.

“The estimated street value of the drugs seized is R1.2m,” says Sekgotodi.

She says police also confiscated R2 000 cash in various bank notes, five cellphones valued at R15 000, a silver weighing scale estimated at R200 and a silver Mercedes-Benz C180 worth about R400 000.

The suspects were charged with the illegal possession of drugs, dealing in drugs and contravention of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002.