A task team made up of law enforcement agencies in Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), put a stinger on syndicates’ smuggling operations when three suspects were arrested with bags of heroin with a street market value of R6.9 million.
Empangeni heroin operation yields great success
In a statement, police spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala confirmed the suspects, aged between 27 and 40, were taken down on Tuesday at the Nseleni off-ramp.
The alleged smugglers, believed to be foreign nationals, made their way into South Africa from Mozambique, completely oblivious to the fact that every move was being stalked by the Empangeni task team.
According to Captain Gwala, the team, made up of highly rated officials from different law enforcement agencies in KZN, was assembled after intelligence was received about a large drug consignment in transit, headed towards the countryside town situated 157 kilometres north of Durban.
“Police received intelligence with regards to the suspects who were transporting drugs from Mozambique towards Empangeni. An operation was put in place to act on the information,” Gwala noted.
A trace operation was immediately launched and the vehicle carrying the three suspects was located as it made its way along the N2.
When it was time to pounce, operatives leading the intelligence operation pulled the target vehicle off the road “for a search to be conducted.”
“Upon searching the vehicle, police discovered 23 bags of heroin hidden in the bin of the bakkie,” Gwala revealed.
Immediately, the heroin haul was seized and placed on a scale, where it was determined that each bag weighed 2kg. According to authorities, the drug seizure, with a total weight of 64kg, has an estimated street market value of R6.9 million.
Cuffed and hit with drug charges, the three suspects were hauled to jail and are expected to appear at the Empangeni Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.