Five packets of heroin were found stashed behind the electronic dashboard of a vehicle after police received a tip-off that a consignment of drugs were bound for Manenberg.
Manenberg police spokesman Captain Ian Bennett said five men, aged between 27 and 38, were arrested during the joint operation between Manenberg’s crime prevention unit and Nyanga cluster crime intelligence unit on Friday December 29, at about 8.20am.
The drugs were worth R60000.
“Members did not know exactly when it would come through the policing precinct, so they needed to wait and stakeout an area with patience and perseverance, which paid off. A vehicle matching the description of the suspicious vehicle transporting drugs through Manenberg was pulled over in Vygieskraal Road, Manenberg, with five male occupants,” said Captain Bennett.
He said the vehicle was searched at Manenberg police station in the presence of the men.
He said after a extensive search, the heroin was found behind the vehicle’s dashboard.
“This shows the extent the suspects went through in hiding the drugs so that it would be extremely difficult to find or sniff out,” he said.
A case of possession of drugs has been opened for investigation. The drugs will be sent to the police laboratory for testing.
He also said police suspect the drugs were a payment to the men as each of the packets of heroin had one of the men’s names on it.
“Perhaps they delivered a larger shipment of drugs this time and they were rewarded for that,” he said.
The five men were charged for being in possession of drugs and were due to appear in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court.