Authorities said the vehicle was concealing a drug substance identified as ABBA, or methaqualone, described as a key ingredient in the manufacture of Mandrax.

BMA Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Communications and Marketing Mmemme Mogotsi told Channel Africa on Friday that border operations were risk-based and targeted. Mogotsi said profiling, scanning and searches led officials to stop the truck after scanners detected concealed items in various compartments.

Mogotsi said officers then moved the truck aside for a more thorough inspection. The search process took about eight hours, with officials unpacking the vehicle before finding the hidden substance.

Mogotsi said officials were initially unsure about the nature of the substance and later brought in a canine unit, the SA Revenue Service, which forms part of cargo-scanning operations, and the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks). Mogotsi said the operation established that the substance was used in the manufacture of Mandrax and had entered SA from Malawi.

Mogotsi said the interception raised concern because of the effect of drugs on communities. Mogotsi also said the work of border officials had prevented the concealed substance from moving further into the country.

On the systems used by the National Border Targeting Centre, Mogotsi said technology played a central role in identifying high-risk vehicles.

Mogotsi said scanners could detect particles and items hidden in areas not visible to the naked eye and could expose concealed compartments that might not be found during a basic search.

Mogotsi said suspects had appeared in court. Mogotsi also said the BMA had handed the matter to relevant law enforcement authorities, including the police and the Hawks, for further investigation into the source of the drugs, the intended destination and the syndicate involved.

Mogotsi added that another border interception had uncovered explosives concealed in different compartments using a similar method.

–ChannelAfrica–