Durban — Alleged dagga smuggler Sechaba Maqhama was remanded in custody after he was arrested while transporting dagga in northern KwaZulu-Natal over the weekend.
KZN Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Simphiwe Mhlongo said that on Sunday, Hawks officers from Richards Bay Serious Organised Crime Investigation working with Louwsburg Visible Policing arrested Maqhama, 44, for possession of dagga.
Mhlongo said that the officers received information about a vehicle that was transporting dagga from Pongola to Vryheid. As a result, Louwsburg officers were alerted and the vehicle was intercepted on Road 69.
“A search was conducted and police found 67 bags of dagga to the street value of approximately R1.2 million,” Mhlongo stated.
He said Maqhama was arrested and charged for possession of dagga.
“The vehicle was seized and will be referred to the Asset Forfeiture Investigation for further handling,” Mhlongo continued.
“Maqhama briefly appeared in the Louwsburg Magistrate’s Court today (Monday) and was remanded in custody. The case was postponed to December 12.”
Meanwhile, last month sister publication the Independent on Saturday reported that confusion around the decriminalisation of dagga has led to some shops openly ‒ but illegally ‒ selling it to the public in parts of the province.
Authorities warned that this is a criminal offence, and offenders could face jail time of between five and 10 years, depending on whether the charge is dealing or possession.
Buying dagga over the counter has become common in Pietermaritzburg CBD and malls as some health product outlets claim to have been licensed by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) to openly sell it to the public.
Sahpra denied licensing the drug sellers, calling them illicit traders who should face the full might of the law.
At the time, KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said police were unaware of the growing number of such outlets and police could not act because they did not know the whereabouts and the identity of the dealers.
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