High-speed chase ends with R2 million dagga seizure in Mpumalanga

A high-speed police chase along Mpumalanga’s N4 road ended with the arrest of a suspect and the seizure of 336kg of dagga worth an estimated R2 million.

The suspect was arrested on Saturday after police spotted a suspicious white Toyota single-cab bakkie travelling at excessive speed between Malalane and the Nkomazi Toll Plaza.

According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), officers attempted to stop the vehicle but the driver allegedly refused to comply and accelerated towards the toll plaza.

Police said the driver continued to travel recklessly during the pursuit, driving along the barrier line and forcing other motorists off the road.

The bakkie allegedly sped through the Nkomazi Toll Plaza, prompting officers to continue the chase along the R38 towards Low’s Creek.

The vehicle was eventually stopped and searched.

Police discovered numerous bags containing compressed dagga inside the bakkie. The total weight of the illegal cargo was estimated at 336kg, with an estimated street value of about R2 million.

The driver was arrested and a case of dealing in dagga was opened.

He is expected to appear in the Barberton Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 14 September, facing a charge of dealing in dagga.

Mpumalanga provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Apaphia Modise commended the officers for their swift response and vigilance.

Modise said the suspect’s alleged reckless driving had placed other road users at serious risk.

“The dealing and trafficking of illegal substances will not be tolerated,” Modise said, adding that the seizure demonstrated police commitment to combating drug-related crime in the province.