NELSPRUIT – Yesterday a Mozambican man appeared in the local Magistrate’s Court after he had been arrested with suspected crystal meth valued at R1,6 million on Thursday. Mr Butuel Mannel Macuacua appeared on charges of dealing and possession of drugs.
Mr Jacques Meiring, operational head of Bossies Community Justice (BCJ), said the Toyota with Mozambican number plates which the man was driving, was pulled over on the N4 at the Matsulu turn-off on its way from Mozambique by officers of Hi-Tech Security Nelspruit. They had received a tip-off regarding the vehicle which was suspected of smuggling drugs into the country.
Mr Nico Grobler, operational manager of Hi-Tech, said the driver seemed nervous around the security officers. The police’s flying squad arrived shortly afterwards. They questioned him and he allegedly admitted to having a small amount of drugs on his person for his own use.
“It was well hidden under the steering wheel in a matchbox,” said Grobler. “It confirmed our suspicions and we decided to search the car thoroughly.” The police’s dog unit joined the security firm with a sniffer dog.
The drugs were reportedly discovered hidden under the windscreen wipers’ mechanism under the hood. Eyewitnesses said it was made up in two packets and totalled approximately 2,4kg.
Police said they suspected that it was crystal meth, which would give it an estimated street value of R1,6 million. However, this would only be
confirmed once laboratory testing had been completed, and this may take some time.
At the time of going to print, it was unclear whether the suspect’s bail application had been heard.
