A Nigerian national will soon appear before the Paarl Magistrates’ Court following his arrest on Tuesday (30 September) near the Huguenot Tunnel in Paarl, where tik and cocaine with an combined estimated street value of more than R20 million were found in the truck he was driving.
It is understood that the man was transporting the drugs from Johannesburg to Cape Town.
“Police in Paarl followed-up on intelligence-driven information about a truck that allegedly transported drugs from Johannesburg to Cape Town,” provincial police spokesperson Capt Frederick van Wyk related.
“The truck was spotted near the Huguenot Tunnel by members of the Paarl Highway Patrol, Boland K9 and Provincial Traffic around 19:00.
“The members stopped and searched the truck and seized 55,8 kg tik to the street value of R16 367 814 and 30,5 kg cocaine to the street value of R3 863 435.”
Van Wyk said a 44-year-old Nigerian national was arrested on drug-related charges and would appear before the Paarl Magistrates’ Court once charged.
He described the bust as a significant seizure, one that was expected to disrupt the supply chain of illicit drugs, protecting communities and supporting efforts to eradicate substance abuse.
Van Wyk said Provincial Commissioner Lt-General (Adv) Thembisile Patekile applauded all role-players who assisted police in removing the drugs from the streets and the accused from society.
