Provincial traffic services confiscated 12 boxes of khat with an estimated street value of R13 000 on the N1 highway in Brackenfell last week, arresting two foreign nationals in connection with the drug smuggling operation.
The men, aged 32 and 34, were detained at Brackenfell Police Station and charged for drug-related crimes after their vehicle was intercepted ten minutes into its journey into Cape Town.
The operation began when a member of the public reported suspicious activity at the Engen One Stop service station, where boxes and bags were observed being transferred from a taxi bearing Eastern Cape registration plates to a hatchback vehicle. A traffic officer positioned along the N1 received the intelligence, successfully identifying the suspect vehicle as it passed the Brackenfell on-ramp.
When an officer attempted to stop the car, the driver initially sped up trying to escape before eventually complying and pulling over.
“They were clearly surprised to be caught, not expecting it. They were almost too relaxed,” the traffic officer told the newspaper.
Khat, a stimulant plant native to eastern and southern Africa, is classified as a controlled substance in South Africa. The drug is typically smuggled into major urban centres where it commands significant street prices.
Both suspects remained in custody pending their court appearance.
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