The Thohoyandou police believe they have broken a major drug syndicate, after the arrest of a man whom they believe is a member of the syndicate.

The man was arrested with a large quantity of dagga. The suspect, a man aged 45, was found in possession of dagga weighing 23kg, worth R10 000, on Friday last week.

According to Limpopo police spokesperson in Vhembe, Captain Mashudu Malelo, police were on patrol at about 15:30 along the Punda Maria road next to Dzindi Dam on the 11th of July 2008 when they noticed a suspicious-looking bus. “Our officers  pulled  the bus  onto the side of the road and requested all passengers to leave the bus with their luggage and to be searched, whereupon a 50kg bag containing dagga and another plastic container with 23 parcels of dagga  were  found,” he said. He said a man aged 45 was subsequently arrested.

Malelo praised the police who were on duty for having scored such a success. “This is just but a warning to would-be criminals that we are ready for them. They must not take chances as they will never succeed,” he said.