Two Malawians and a Zambian have been arrested after South African authorities intercepted a Malawi-registered truck allegedly carrying methaqualone worth about K106 billion.
The truck was stopped at Beitbridge Border Post after scanners detected suspicious cargo. Officials then conducted an eight-hour search and reportedly discovered about 713 kilogrammes of methaqualone, a key ingredient used in the manufacture of mandrax.
South Africa’s Border Management Authority (BMA) said the suspects are being held pending drug trafficking charges.
The seizure has raised fresh questions about how a consignment of such value allegedly passed through regional borders undetected.
Malawi Police Service national spokesperson Peter Kalaya told local newspaper The Nation that authorities are still waiting for information from Interpol regarding the arrests.
“We are yet to get information from Interpol, which usually informs us on issues beyond our borders like this one,” he said.
The three suspects are currently being held at Musina Police Unit and are expected to appear in court on drug trafficking charges.
BMA spokesperson Mmemme Mogotsi said officials became suspicious after the truck was subjected to a non-intrusive cargo scan.
