NELSPRUIT - Stop and search operation conducted by Kaapmuiden SAPS partnered by Komatipoort K9 (canine) resulted in a major bust whereby 58 plastic bags containing 53kg of Christal Meth, worth about R53 million in street value, was recovered.

The recovery led to the arrest of two suspects, Reginald Francisco De Maura Tomàs (32) and Reginaldo Joào Tomàs (30), on Tuesday 17 January 2023 at about 10:00 at Nkomazi Toll Plaza.

It took a blink of an eye for the police dog to respond to the drugs which were concealed in different compartments of their South African registered vehicle with Gauteng registration plates.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the vehicle was not reported stolen.

Both suspects made a brief appearance at Barberton Magistrate's Court yesterday and remanded in custody for the second court appearance in Low's Creek Magistrate's Court today, Thursday 19 January 2023.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela applauded members for their outstanding work done and indicated that at no stage Mpumalanga will be used as a smooth passage for drug traffickers.

Source: South African Police Service