Police arrest suspects for bribery, recover R900k worth of drugs

Police arrested three suspects who attempted to bribe a police officer in exchange for releasing their alleged drug dealer accomplices who had been arrested during a routine patrol in the Free State at the weekend.

Freestate SAPS spokesperson, Brigadier Motantsi Makhele, said that the police had arrested the three suspects after they drove to the police station and allegedly attempted to bribe the arresting police officer. Instead, police officers searched their vehicle, recovered further drugs and arrested the three men.

Makhele said that Trompsburg highway police had initially arrested two suspects while they were engaged in routine patrols on the N1 freeway on Friday morning.

“Trompsburg Highway Police were doing their routine patrols on the N1 between Trompsburg and Edenburg when they spotted a suspicious grey Golf 5 and stopped it. Upon searching the vehicle, nine black bags of dagga were found on the back seat and  inside the boot. The two suspects aged 38 and 39 who are both foreign nationals were arrested,” Makhele said.

“While the police were processing the two suspects at the charge office, a white Polo sedan appeared and the occupants asked for the arresting officer. They allegedly offered the police officer an undisclosed amount of money in exchange for letting the suspects go,” Makhele said.

“The officer refused and instead called for his crew who helped him search the vehicle. Crystal meth and other drugs suspected to be Nyaope were found,” he said.

The officers arrested the three suspects who are aged 36, 37 and 47.

“The street value of the confiscated drugs (dagga, crystal meth and nyaope) is just over R900 000,” Makhele said.

All five suspects are expected to appear in the Edenburg Magistrates’ Court in the Free State  on Monday 27 September where they will face charges of possession of drugs and bribery.