A 38-year-old woman arrested for transporting narcotics across the border was remanded in custody by the Komatipoort Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

According to Mpumalanga News, Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Thandi Tshabalala confirmed that Joana Alberto Chirinda (38) was arrested by SAPS officers stationed at the Lebombo Port of Entry, in collaboration with members of the Mbombela-based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit, on Monday.

According to Tshabalala, information was received by officials at the Lebombo border post regarding a white Nissan NP200 transporting illegal narcotics from Mozambique into South Africa.

The information was immediately operationalised and the vehicle was traced. It was discovered that the vehicle had already crossed the border and was found parked at a Komatipoort fuel station.

Tshabalala said officers surveilled the vehicle with the intent of identifying its occupants. They observed a woman entering the driver’s side and immediately approached the vehicle to carry out a search.

Eleven containers of crystal meth with an estimated street value of R1.7m were found behind the seats, hidden inside false compartments.

Members of the port authority immediately contacted a Hawks official who was in the vicinity, and the suspect was arrested.

The matter was postponed to Friday for a formal bail application.

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