According to the Hawks’ provincial spokesperson, Tlangelani Rikhotso, the Hawks in Mahikeng and officials arrested this suspect (45) at the Swartkopfontein Port of Entry. He was arrested on Sunday during a multi-disciplinary operation. Rikhotso says the suspect was arrested after a taxi travelling from Botswana to South Africa was searched. Three bags of cocaine were allegedly found hidden in false compartments of his two backpacks. He is set to appear at the Lehurutse Magistrate’s Court on 30 August 2022. Rikhotso adds that the suspect will be facing charges of Contravention of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in the North West, known as the Hawks, Major General Patrick Mbotho, has lauded the arrest of this suspect. The use of drugs has over the years been a thorny issue for many South Africans with the government introducing stringent measures to curb the spike in the use of drugs such as cocaine and Nyaope.

Two months ago, following extensive complaints by South Africans during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s various imbizos, the Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance (Cogta), Thembi Nkadimeng, mentioned that “our country is vulnerable and is seen as an ideal arena for the illicit drug trade, because of transportation infrastructure, modern international telecommunication, and banking systems. Unfortunately, drug trafficking syndicates are increasingly targeting South Africans to smuggle drugs, knowingly or unknowingly, between countries”.

She said the nation has turned into a drug manufacturing, transit, and consumer nation, whilst alcohol continues to be the psychoactive substance that is most frequently abused.

“The scourge of substance abuse is a real threat to the sustainable livelihoods of our communities and has the potential to undermine developmental efforts that are articulated in the National Development Plan. Socio-economic factors such as poverty, inequality, and unemployment remain key contributing elements to the increased use of drugs and the development of substance use disorders. Therefore, our gathering is important as we are here to support the call by the government and all other stakeholders and spread the word about the perils of drug usage and how it continues to rip apart our communities and the social fabric of our society,” Nkadimeng added.

Read the speech of Deputy Minister Thembi Nkadimeng: Commemoration of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

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