Staff Reporter
A drug consignment with an estimated street value of R998.2 million has been intercepted at the Beitbridge border post after an intelligence-driven operation flagged a truck travelling through Zimbabwe into South Africa, Home Affairs said on Thursday.
The truck was stopped on Wednesday after it was identified ahead of its arrival by the Border Management Authority’s (BMA) National Targeting Centre.
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An extensive physical search then took place, according to Home Affairs, “painstakingly dismantling the truck over more than eight hours” before finding about 713 000 grams of methaqualone, commonly known as ABBA, a substance widely used in the manufacture of mandrax.
On arrival at Beitbridge, the vehicle was subjected to a non-intrusive cargo scan using the truck scanner at the port. The scan confirmed “suspicious anomalies” and revealed a hidden compartment.
The Hawks and SAPS K9 units were later called in to assist with the operation.
Three Malawian suspects were arrested and are being held at Musina Police Station. The Hawks are continuing investigations into the origin and intended destination of the consignment.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber commended the law enforcement officials involved in the operation.
“This operation constitutes likely the single biggest success in recent times against the drug trade and cross-border smuggling. It demonstrates beyond a shadow of a doubt that our investment in intelligence-driven work as well as digital transformation, is empowering the BMA to restore the rule of law at South Africa’s borders,” Schreiber said.
“I commend the women and men of the BMA for their commitment and diligence that resulted in this breakthrough. It sends a powerful message to would-be smugglers that South Africa is clamping down on illegality through intelligence and technology.
“This, as one of the most successful anti-smuggling operations our country has seen, shows that the BMA’s strategy is yielding result and serves to motivate us to do even more to restore the rule of law.”
