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Members of the Richards Bay Serious Organised Investigation Unit have found heroin powder with a street value of about R87.5 million and arrested three suspects.
In a statement on Thursday, the Hawks said that the bust was made in collaboration with the Mpumalanga Crime Intelligence who discovered 342.5 kg of the drug inside what is believed to be a purpose-built hiding spot inside a truck travelling from Mozambique via Swaziland to KwaZulu-Natal.
“The truck was intercepted in Hluhluwe and the team immediately started with the search,” said Captain Simphiwe Mhlongo.
He said almost 250 packets of heroin were found hidden in a false partition which was newly painted.
“Members had to cut open the compartment in order to access the drugs. The driver and two passengers were immediately placed under arrest they will appear in court soon,” Mhlongo said.
The National Head of the Hawks, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, has welcomed the arrest and seizure of the drugs.
Mhlongo said that the suspects, believed to be foreign nationals, appeared in court on Thursday and they were remanded in custody for further investigation.
