R2 million drug haul: Limpopo police intercept truck carrying Benylin syrup and dagga
A haul of dagga and assorted medications, including Benylin with codeine, seized by police in Limpopo. The drugs are valued at over R2 million.
Image: SAPS
Two foreign nationals have been arrested and are facing charges after police in Limpopo intercepted a truck and discovered a large quantity of dagga and various medications, including Benylin with codeine, with a combined value of over R2 million.
The suspects, Cuthbert Derera, 30, and Wishborn Fufa, 39, appeared before the Thabazimbi Magistrate's Court on Monday, for possession of dagga and for contravening the Medicines and Related Substances Act. Their case was postponed to September 22 for a formal bail application.
Provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, said the teams of Northam SAPS, Thabazimbi SAPS, and Zimbi security received a tip-off about the truck on Saturday.
A haul of dagga and assorted medications, including Benylin with codeine, seized by police in Limpopo. The drugs are valued at over R2 million.
Image: SAPS
"The team operationalized on the information and successfully stopped the truck on the R510 road to Lephalale. The truck driver and the crew were requested to alight from the truck. During the search, the crew discovered 40 bales of dagga valued at R1.5 million, assorted bottles of Benylin with codeine, BronCleer and Astra Pain (syrup) valued at R500,000," said Ledwaba.
He said the two suspects could not account for the items' origin. They were arrested and detained at the Thabazimbi SAPS.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, provincial commissioner of police in Limpopo, has applauded the law enforcement agencies' attention and determination in intercepting people attempting to smuggle harmful substances into or out of the country.
Provincial commissioner of police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe.
Image: SAPS
Police investigations are ongoing.
Previously, IOL reported that the SA Pharmacy Council (SAPC) said it was alarmed at the misuse and abuse of medicines in South Africa, and appealed to the general public to use medicines wisely.
"Abuse of over-the-counter and prescription medication is a cause of various health problems, addiction, and disruption of the social lives of the young and old, with 2 percent of the respondents in the SA Demographic and Health Survey indicating abuse of codeine-containing medicines," said the then president of the SAPC, Professor Mano Chetty.
Improper use and abuse of medicines also results in hundreds of deaths and drug-resistant illnesses.
The regulator of the pharmacy profession, the SAPC, at the time called on the public to use medicines wisely to ensure that medicines work as intended, and to avoid complications that may occur as a result of misuse.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
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