It was at approximately 10:30 AM, on the 25 March 2025, when members of the Aliwal North Detectives and Crime Intelligence were conducting a tracing operation and received information about a truck travelling from Smithfield to Aliwal North, suspected of transporting drugs.
The members swiftly reacted, and the truck was cornered at the bridge and escorted into the town for a thorough search.
Meanwhile, a detailed search of the truck led to the discovery of more than 12 large bags of crystal meth, with an estimated street value of R50 million and the truck used in transporting the drugs was also confiscated. A 35-year-old man from Gauteng, who was both the driver and owner of the truck, has been arrested.
After his arrest the driver who is a resident of Gauteng, claimed that he was forced to convey the drugs from Johannesburg to Aliwal North where the handover was supposed to take place. He is expected to appear before Aliwal North magistrate court soon.
Meanwhile, MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Xolile Nqatha commended the police in Aliwal North for their intelligence action and for swiftly arresting a 35-year-old suspect. “The arrest serves as proof that our crime-fighting strategies are beginning to produce positive results. In our province we have reached a point where criminals must understand that if they commit a crime, they will be arrested, and police will defend themselves if attacked by criminals,” he said.
