MKHONDO – Three alleged dagga smugglers were separately arrested on March 30 with large amounts of dagga in two different incidents.
In the first incident, two of them were arrested between Amsterdam and the Nerston Border Post.
The police were conducting a stop-and-search operation when they stopped a white Toyota Avanza with two occupants and conducted a search.
Dagga weighing 149.91kg, with an estimated street value of about R600 222, was found in the vehicle, and the suspects were arrested and charged for dealing in dagga.
Nthuthuko Alfred Shelembe (38) and Wonderboy Climate Ndlovu (39) appeared in the Piet Retief Magistrate’s Court on March 31, when their case was postponed to April 13 for further investigation.
In the second incident, Bongani Dlamini (36), from the Kingdom of eSwatini, was found hitchhiking on the N17 with some luggage.
The Oshoek police approached him and conducted a search.
“During the search, the police discovered that Dlamini was in possession of dagga in the luggage he was carrying, weighing 4.6kg. He was arrested and charged for dealing in dagga,” Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, a provincial police spokesperson, said.
The case against Dlamini was postponed to April 17 and he was remanded in custody.
In another separate incident, at the Oshoek Border Post on March 30 at about 16:00, the police found some abandoned dagga weighing 102kg when they were on patrol duties.
The police are investigating the incident.
