Three suspects aged between 33 and 41 appeared at the Piet Retief Magistrate’s Court today, Tuesday 26 September 2023 on charges of dealing in dagga, one with an additional charge of contravention of the Immigration Act.

The two males and one female were arrested by members of the Police from Mahamba SAPS in two separate incidents whilst traveling along the N2 Road near Piet Retief.

In the first incident, members received information about a person spotted with suspicious luggage walking next to the road. The men and women in Blue responded swiftly by making a follow-up whereby the man was found hitch-hiking and carrying a blue bag containing four plastic bags. The luggage was further wrapped with some sellotapes.

After searching the bag, police discovered that the man (41) from the Kingdom of eSwatini had concealed dagga weighing at about 5,146 kilograms inside the luggage. The estimated street value of the dagga is at about R7719. He was then arrested and charged for dealing in dagga. He was also charged for contravention of the Immigration Act of South Africa after police discovered that he does not have valid documentation to be in the country. On that part, the investigators are working in collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs to ascertain his status in the Republic.