[imagesource:twitter/sapoliceservice]

In a monumental drug bust this week, South African Police Service (SAPS) officers nabbed a group of dealers attempting to smuggle 64 bags of cannabis through Mooinooi in the North West.

And when we say bags, we mean BAGS.

Although you may not know it by its traditional name, ‘machangaan bag’, you’ll recognise the patterned canvas carriers as a staple on the African continent; from tannie’s using them for holiday trips to market-sellers taking advantage of the spacious satchels for stock-storing.

And now the infamous machangaan bag can hold claim to carrying an extra-special import: dagga. 

Rustenburg police confiscated around R5 million’s worth of freshly-processed marijuana during the bust. The seizure took place following a tip-off that led to the arrest of two individuals aged 37 and 41 who were transporting the bags for delivery in a large white truck.

The Flying Squad unit, acting on community-provided intelligence, successfully tracked down the truck as it was departing from Brits Toll Plaza, leading to an interception and full search at the Bapong Weigh Bridge.

Colonel Adele Myburgh, SAPS spokesperson, confirmed the arrests of two of the culprits involved:

“The outcome of the search was the discovery of 64 bags of dagga concealed within the truck’s cargo …This led to the immediate arrests of both the driver and the passenger … Furthermore, one of the apprehended individuals is also facing a charge for unlawful presence in the country.”

I’m not sure if I agree that the bags were ‘concealed’ as such, after seeing the images. Maybe dealers have a pep in their step since marijuana laws have been relaxed in South Africa. We even have legal cannabis shops popping up in Cape Town, so it’s no surprise that those in the biz of bud may feel a little less paranoid all ’round.

As usual, us Saffas always see the funny side of life, and the incident already has local netizens spouting one-liners about the nature of the bust:

I’m sure they could smell that truck from miles away.

— Jamie Hills (@JamieHillsCT) August 20, 2023

While many are giggling at the almost stoner-flick levels of bud stuffed into machangaan bags, some social media users are calling to attention the irony and misplaced justice regarding the seizure. One Twitter/X user named @TieOnto expressed what many pro-dagga locals are feeling:

“Fully legalise it, and free up resources to focus on serious and violent crime.”

They make a good point. Why do recreational users get to enjoy a spliff and those who provide the goods get ‘got’? Still, that’s a moerse klomp zol.

[source:thecitizen]