A 34-year-old Nigerian national has been arrested for dealing in drugs in Balfour, Mpumalanga, after officers uncovered narcotics hidden inside a bed during a search of a residential property on 26 May.
According to police, officers acted on information and proceeded to an identified address where the suspect was found. A search of the premises led to the discovery of drugs concealed underneath a mattress inside the bed base.
Drugs Hidden in Unlikely Places
The suspect was arrested at the scene and was expected to appear in the Balfour Magistrate’s Court on May 27. This incident highlights the creative ways in which drug dealers attempt to conceal their illicit goods, often hiding them in unlikely places such as inside vehicles or within residential properties.
In a separate incident, a Zimbabwean national has been sentenced to eight years’ direct imprisonment by the Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court for possession of illicit cigarettes and contravention of immigration laws. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the ruling, which relates to the interception of a Ford Ranger on the R516 following a police tip-off.
Illicit Cigarettes and Immigration Laws
Authorities discovered a large consignment of undeclared cigarettes during a search of the vehicle. The accused pleaded guilty to the charges, admitting that on 11 February 2026, he was driving a Ford Ranger with a black canopy on the R516 near a Caltex filling station when police received a tip-off, intercepted, and searched the vehicle.
Police recovered 35 master boxes, 48 cartons and six packets of Remington Gold cigarettes, valued at R167 268, which did not carry the required South African tax markings. The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has strict regulations regarding the importation and sale of cigarettes in South Africa.
- 35 master boxes of cigarettes
- 48 cartons of cigarettes
- six packets of Remington Gold cigarettes
The court also heard arguments that undocumented foreign nationals who evade authorities over long periods pose additional risks to law enforcement efforts. Strong sentencing was necessary to deter similar crimes, according to the NPA.
