A Khat drug consignment worth more than R500 000 in estimated street value was successfully intercepted during a crime intelligence-driven operation between the Northern Cape and Western Cape.
Upon receiving a tip-off about a truck transporting Khat drugs from Gauteng via Kimberley to Cape Town between July 11 and July 12, 2022, the Crime Intelligence Counter Narcotics office in Kimberley took action.
It was decided to activate the Francis Baard District Task Team to search for the alleged truck. On the N12 close to Warrenton, the truck was seen.
The team, assisted by the Kimberley Flying Squad, dismounted the truck and guided it to a Warrenton gas station that was nearby.
Six boxes containing a total of 145 plants of the drug Khat were found by the team after searching the truck.
A truck driver, 44, was taken into custody. He revealed to the team during questioning that the package was intended to be delivered in Cape Town. The end-receivers’ names in Cape Town were imprinted on the boxes.
The suspect was accused of drug dealing.
The delivery to Cape Town was operationalized on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, by the Francis Baard Task Team in the Northern Cape with help from the Western Cape team.
To deliver the Khat drugs to the recipients in Cape Town, the truck was escorted from Warrenton.
The N1 1Stop filling station close to Kraaifontein was contacted to arrange for the recipients to pick up their deliveries.
After their delivery was collected, the recipients sped away from the scene in a Chevrolet Spark.
The police gave chase at a high rate of speed. One of the suspects was later apprehended. The suspects got out of their car and fled on foot. There is still one suspect on the loose.
The suspect is accused of drug dealing, attempted murder, and malicious property damage. His upcoming court appearance in Bellville is anticipated.
Both the Northern Cape and Western Cape teams received praise from Major General Kolisa Otola, the acting provincial commissioner for the Northern Cape, for their high level of dedication and teamwork, which resulted in the arrest of the suspects.