Mohalenyane Phakela
THE South African Police Service (SAPS) last Tuesday busted a truck which was loaded with 3 624 kilograms of marijuana at the Maseru Bridge Border Post.
The illegal consignment came from Lesotho and was destined for South Africa.
SAPS Captain Phumelelo Dhlamini subsequently confirmed to the Sunday Express that a Mosotho man was arrested after police discovered that the truck he was driving was carrying 147 bags of marijuana, estimated to have a street value of R5 million (M5 million).
“I can confirm that during our routine check last Tuesday night, we recovered a lot of marijuana, about 3 624 kg from a truck that was driven by a 24-year-old man from Lesotho. He was arrested for dealing in dagga and will soon appear before the Ladybrand Magistrates’ Court,” Cpt Dlamini said.
He further explained that the suspect was stopped as he tried to drive through the port of entry on the South African side.
“We then discovered a compartment inside a container, which was loaded on the back of the truck. It contained 147 bags of dagga.”
Cpt Dhlamini however, said that the smuggling of large quantities of marijuana was not common the Maseru Bridge Border Post.
“The smuggling of marijuana is high at the Ficksburg port of entry (Maputsoe Border Post) and along the Caledon River (Mohokare), where smugglers from Lesotho use horses, donkeys and cattle to smuggle marijuana into South Africa.”
Meanwhile, the South African Police in the Free State Province is appealing for help from Basotho, in their efforts to locate the family of a woman thought to be aged between 25 and 35 who died in a car accident that occurred in Botshabelo on 25 October, 2017.
According to the Selosesha Communication, Marketing and Liaison Officer, Sergeant Martin Xuma, the woman was travelling in a vehicle with a Lesotho registration number when the accident occurred at night, along the N8 road near Botshabelo.
“There were four occupants in the vehicle and two of them suffered severe injuries, which led to their death. We only managed to trace the family of one of the deceased, a man who was also from Lesotho, while we still have not been successful in finding the woman’s family,” Sgt Xuma said.
He said the woman resided in Phahameng in Bloemfontein but was originally from Lesotho.
“Anyone with information that can help us to trace her family should contact Detective Warrant Officer Tshediso Makhothi on +27 51 531 5813 or +27 78 110 3464.”
Sgt Xuma said police in Botshabelo were still investigating a case of culpable homicide pertaining to the accident.
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