Hawks have arrested three people in possession of heroin powder.
They were caught while transporting close to R90m worth of heroin powder from Mozambique into northern KwaZulu-Natal.
According to Hawks provincial spokesperson, Capt Simphiwe Mhlongo in a statement on Thursday, he disclosed that members of the Richards Bay Serious Organised Investigation unit together with the Mpumalanga Crime Intelligence members launched the operation and made the bust.
Mhlongo said the joint team confiscated heroin powder found in a truck with an estimated value of about R87.5m.
The three suspects nabbed in the bust were also arrested.
The suspects made use of a custom-built truck to conceal the drugs.
The members immediately started their search operation on the truck after they intercepted it in Hluhluwe.
“The Hawks in collaboration with the Mpumalanga Crime Intelligence discovered 342.5kg of the drug inside what is believed to be a purpose-built hide in a truck which was coming from Mozambique via Swaziland to KwaZulu-Natal.”
“Almost 250 packets of heroin were found hidden in a false partition which was newly painted. Members had to cut open the compartment in order to access the drugs.”
The driver and two passengers have been charged and will appear in court soon.
