Police in Limpopo have intensified their war against drugs dealers and smugglers, resulting in the arrest of two suspects, a Nigerian and a Tanzanian.

In a statement, SAPS spokesperson for Limpopo Lt Col Ronel Otto said that, in the first incident, members from the Hawks in the province received information about a suspect who was supplying drugs in and around Mokopane. They monitored the suspect for some time and on Thursday, 12 January, they moved in on him. “The 40-year-old suspect was arrested at his place of residence in the town after our officers searched his premises and recovered packets of heroine, cocaine rocks, ecstasy tablets, dagga and cocaine powder, all to the value of R350 000. Cash to the value of R142 613 was also confiscated,” she said.

The suspect, who is from Nigeria, is expected to appear in the Mokopane Magistrate's Court soon. “We are continuing with our investigations and there is a possibility that the suspect might be connected to more incidents of drug-related crimes,” Otto said.

In the second incident, at Beit Bridge Border Post, a suspect from Tanzania was arrested for the possession of drugs he tried to smuggle into the country. SAPS members on duty at the border post became suspicious of the suspect and when they searched him, they found what appeared to be cocaine wrapped in plastic.

“The suspect was also seen swallowing something, and when he was taken to hospital for X-rays, it was found that more plastic bags were visible in his stomach. The suspect was admitted to Musina Hospital for observation under police guard. The value of the confiscated drugs is yet to be established,” said Otto.

The Provincial Commissioner of SAPS in Limpopo, Lt-Gen Simon Mpembe, stated that this was only the beginning of the fight against drugs in the province.

“Besides the fact that the possession and use of drugs is a criminal act, drug users sometimes resort to committing crime to fund their dependability on the substance and this is one of the aspects that we want to eradicate. I would also like to remind local people that we need support from our communities to help us fight crime. We therefore urge members of the communities to contact the police if they see anything suspicious which might be linked to crime.  Just pick up the phone and call our SAPS Provincial Hotline number (0800 765 423) or our crime line number at 08600 10111 where information can be left anonymously,” Mpembe said.