A tip-off suggesting a drug smuggling syndicate led Ntabamhlophe police to the Shayamoya location on Saturday.

Following up on the information, Captain Mkhize, Constable Khumalo and Constable Ngubane arrived at a house where they were confronted with five females and three males packaging dagga. Police reports suggest that the suspects were from Lesotho.

“The eight were arrested and 264kg of dagga was seized. The dagga has a street value of around R 450 000,” commented police spokesperson Captain Charmaine Struwig.

All suspects are aged between 28 and 57-years-old. They made their first appearance in the Estcourt Magistrate’s Court on Monday where they face charges of possession of dagga.