Police seize about R11m in drugs on N2 near Riviersonderend; foreign national arrested

Police stopped a vehicle on the N2 near Riviersonderend during a routine vehicle stop-and-search on Tuesday night, uncovering a cache of drugs with an estimated street value of approximately R11 million and arresting the driver.

What officers found

Western Cape police said officers intercepted a black Nissan Tiida. According to police spokesperson Constable Ndakhe Gwala, a search of the vehicle revealed drugs concealed in the boot.

Police reported the seizure included 87 packets of mandrax tablets, 16 packets of uncut crystal meth and two blocks of cocaine.

Arrest and next steps

The driver, described by police as a 37-year-old foreign national, was arrested on a charge of possession of drugs. Police said he is expected to appear in the Caledon Magistrate’s Court once formally charged.

Related national operation at OR Tambo

On the same day, police working with Customs and other law enforcement at OR Tambo International Airport seized suspected cocaine in two separate operations.

National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said one interception uncovered two large travel suitcases containing blocks of suspected cocaine weighing approximately 84 kilograms.

Mathe said a separate seizure at the cargo section uncovered four boxes containing approximately 250kg of suspected cocaine, packed into 220 blocks. She gave a combined estimated street value of the seized cocaine as more than R200 million.

“The combined estimated street value of the seized cocaine is more than R200 million,” said Brigadier Athlenda Mathe.

Mathe said no arrests had been made at that stage.