/ 22 January 2007

Police swoop on R270m-worth of drugs

North West police have seized drugs with an estimated street value of R270-million from a factory on a farm near the Hartbeespoort Dam.

Police spokesperson Superintendent Pieter du Plessis said: ”The drug ‘ice’ was seized on Monday morning when the Potchefstroom organised-crime unit and South African Revenue Service (Sars) Pretoria investigators reacted to a tip-off from members of the community.”

Du Plessis said five men were arrested at the scene after a month-long investigation.

He said the men have not yet been charged as investigations are continuing.

”At the moment I cannot say where the drugs were distributed as we are still investigating,” said Du Plessis.

North West safety provincial minister Jerry Thibedi said the swift action by police and Sars deserves full praise from South Africans.

”There must be no room for such criminals to hide — no matter how remote a place they choose for their criminal acts, they will be found and flushed out,” said Thibedi. — Sapa