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- Mpumalanga police recovered abandoned dagga worth more than R1.4 million on Saturday.
- It was found on a street near the Emahlathini border gate in Piet Retief.
- Two other people were arrested in two separate incidents for drug possession.
Dagga worth more than R1.4 million has been found abandoned on the streets of Mpumalanga.
Police recovered the dagga near the Emahlathini border post in Piet Retief.
Provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, said the suspects appeared to have abandoned the dagga on the street.
"Nine bags of dagga wrapped with a Sellotape (sic) to the estimated street value of about R 1 406 160 [were found]. The weight of the dagga is approximately 334.8kg," he said.
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Meanwhile, police arrested two men on separate drug possession charges.
"One suspect, 36, was arrested in Bethal after being found with suspected drugs called 'full-moon rock', estimated street value of about R15 600 [on Sunday]," Mohlala said.
He said police had later received information about a person in possession of illicit substances who matched the suspect's description.
"The details were followed, and a person matching the description as provided was spotted near a certain shop in Bethal."
Mohlala said police noticed that the man had a small transparent plastic bag on him.
Mohlala said:
He said a preliminary investigation revealed that the man had been arrested for a similar offence in February.
"The police are working with officials from the Department of Home Affairs to ascertain his status in the country. More charges could possibly be added against him as the investigation continues," he said.
The man was expected appear in the Bethal Magistrate's Court on Monday.
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In a separate incident, police arrested a 22-year-old man in Amsterdam after seizing dagga weighing about 1.36kg, and worth around R5 000.
Mohlala said Nerston Port of Entry members had been patrolling the road on Sunday when they stopped and searched the suspect.
"That was the time when they found the dagga in his possession. He was arrested and charged accordingly," he added.
The man was expected to appear at the Amsterdam Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.
Acting provincial police commissioner, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, said he acknowledged and appreciated the effort made by SAPS members in battling illicit drug trafficking throughout the province.
