Drugs with a total estimated street value of more than R20 million was seized by the Musina police during the course of last weekend, following several arrests.

All of the arrests were made on Sunday, 19 May, at or near the Beit Bridge border post.

In the first incident, the 36-year-old Kudinga Bunyabvabu from the Congo was arrested after being caught allegedly trying to smuggle a large amount of cocaine into South Africa.

According to provincial police spokesperson Lt Col Ronel Otto, a police officer found the cocaine in Bunyabvabu’s possession during a routine check of travellers’ luggage. Inside one carry bag were some spools of thread. The officer decided to investigate further when he found the spools to be heavier than they should be. After unwinding the spools, the police discovered several bags of concealed cocaine with a total weight 10,8kg. A further 5,2kg of cocaine, Otto said, was discovered shortly afterwards in a hidden compartment of Bunyabvabu’s suitcase. In total, the street value of the cocaine found is estimated at R18 million.

Bunyabvabu appeared in the Musina District Court on Monday and was charged with smuggling and the illegal possession of drugs. His case was postponed until 27 May for further investigation. Bunyabvabu was not asked to plea or bring a bail application and he will remain in custody until his next appearance.

In the second incident, police arrested the 38-year-old Aefhi Abvul Mrisno from Tanzanian when he allegedly tried to smuggle heroin into South Africa from Zimbabwe. The drugs were found in Mrisno's traveling bag inside a false compartment. A total of 2,2kg of heroin was found, with an estimated value of R2, 64 million.

Another 38-year-old South African man was arrested when 17 boxes of illegal cigarettes where found in his vehicle, with an estimated street value of about R162 500. The man was arrested along the N1 between Musina and the Beit Bridge border post. Both the illegal cigarettes and the man’s vehicle were confiscated.

In a non-drug-related incident, a 46-year-old Zimbabwean man was caught after he allegedly tried to sneak seven batteries over the country’s border into Zimbabwe. The batteries, according to police information, originated from several nationwide cellphone towers and are worth approximately R26 560.