JOHANNESBURG – Three Mozambican nationals face drug trafficking charges after HAWKS officers discovered crystal meth worth R1.3 million hidden in their vehicle during a targeted operation in Kensington on Monday.

Alexandre Alberto Chissano, Raul Silvadore Homo, and Antonio Lisboa appeared briefly at the Johannesburg Regional Court where they were remanded in custody until December 11, 2024, for a possible bail application.

HAWKS spokesperson Lloyd Ramovha said officers acted on intelligence about a gold Toyota Avensis suspected of involvement in drug dealing. “Upon searching the vehicle with the occupants’ consent, a secret compartment behind the back seats was discovered but found to be empty,” he said.

A subsequent search of the vehicle’s boot revealed five containers of crystal meth weighing 5 kilograms, according to Ramovha.

The arrest highlights ongoing efforts by South African law enforcement to combat drug trafficking networks operating in the greater Johannesburg area.

The seized drugs, with an estimated street value of R1.3 million, represent one of the larger crystal meth busts in the area this year.