handcuffsNews24 reports that a traffic chief, two police officers and a civilian have been arrested after a large haul of cocaine with an estimated street value of R200 million was allegedly discovered in a police bakkie.

Police on Friday responded to a report of a suspected hijacked cargo truck at the premises of an Aeroton business in Johannesburg and found 23 bags containing cocaine in a parked bakkie on the premises. Colonel Brenda Muridili reported: "Upon interviewing the driver of the bakkie, it was discovered that he is a police warrant officer attached to Zonkezizwe police station and that the bakkie is a state vehicle. He was placed under arrest on the scene together with his three accomplices, another police warrant officer attached to National Investigative Unit, a Gauteng chief traffic officer and a civilian." According to the police, 552 bricks of cocaine, four vehicles, three state vehicles and R60,000 in cash were seized during the bust. Allegedly, the cargo truck transported the cocaine from Durban Harbour to Johannesburg, escorted by the three state vehicles. At the warehouse, suspects removed the consignment from the truck and loaded it onto the bakkie. On duty police officials intercepted the suspects' vehicle as they were about to flee the scene. The suspects, aged between 35 and 42, are due to appear in the Booysens Magistrate's Court on Monday, facing charges of robbery, dealing in drugs and defeating the ends of justice.


Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page