Police arrested two people on the N1 near Worcester for smuggling perlemoen worth around R2-million.
Western Cape police spokesperson Captain Frederick van Wyk said the arrests happened in two separate incidents before the perlemoen could reach its destination.
In the first case, a 39-year-old man was arrested on 10 September during a joint operation involving several task teams.
The police acted on information about a truck transporting perlemoen from Cape Town and set up a roadblock on the N1 near Meirings Park, Worcester.
When the truck was stopped, K9 Layla, a detection dog, found perlemoen inside the truck’s cab.
The search also revealed more bags hidden in a compartment outside the cab. A total of 4,582 dried perlemoen, valued at R2-million, was confiscated.
Later that day, information about another truck transporting perlemoen led to the arrest of a 41-year-old man.
The Worcester SAPS anti-gang unit stopped the truck and found 960 dried perlemoen, worth approximately R468,000, inside the cab.
Western Cape provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile praised the officers for their vigilance and dedication.
Pictured above: Perlemoen worth over R2-million was found inside a truck near Worcester by detection dog Layla.
