2 Held for dealing in 'date rape' drugs

The man, 38, and woman, 23, were arrested on Monday, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said.

 

A truck from Kenya carrying clothes was stopped at the Groblersbrug border post last Saturday. During a routine search police discovered more than 12,600 Rohypnol (Flunitrazepam) tablets concealed in boxes.

 

"The drug is dubbed the "date rape drug" because it is commonly used to drug rape victims before the ordeal," Mulaudzi said.

 

The truck driver and the owner of the truck, who was in Johannesburg, denied knowledge of the drugs. When the driver arrived in Jeppe with the cargo the pair was arrested on the scene after collecting the drugs.

 

The total consignment was valued at over R700,000.

 

They would appear in the Jeppe Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.

 

In a separate incident, two Nigerian men and a South African woman were also arrested on Monday in Lephalale, Limpopo, for dealing in drugs, Mulaudzi said.

 

The 25-year-old woman was found with two sealed packets of cocaine with an estimated street value of R250,000.

 

"The woman, who is from Kempton Park in Gauteng, told the police that she was sent to deliver the goods," Mulaudzi said.

 

"A trap was then set for the owners of the drugs and they were arrested a few minutes after the seizure of drugs."

 

The three would appear in the Lephalale Magistrate's Court on Wednesday for possession of drugs. More charges were expected, Mulaudzi said.