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A strong smell of dagga coming from one of several portable toilets loaded onto a truck led to the seizure of cannabis worth more than R7.5 million and the arrest of a 37-year-old foreign national on the N1 near Colesberg, Northern Cape.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) said the bust formed part of ongoing efforts by police and Provincial Traffic officials to curb the cross-border movement of drugs.

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The suspect was arrested on Wednesday after Provincial Traffic officials stopped a white Foton truck transporting mobile toilets at the Weigh Bridge on the N1.

According to SAPS, traffic officers had received information that the truck was allegedly being used to transport dagga.

“During the inspection, they detected a strong smell of dagga coming from one of the toilets and found a large bag inside,” SAPS said.

Police were called to the scene and, after conducting a thorough search, discovered seven bulk bags wrapped in sellotape containing suspected dagga.

The seized cannabis weighed 379.3kg and has an estimated street value of more than R7.586 million.

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The driver was arrested by Colesberg police and charged with dealing in dagga.

The truck and trailer used to transport the drugs were also confiscated.

The suspect is expected to appear in the Colesberg Magistrate’s Court.

Northern Cape Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola praised the officials involved in the operation.

“The seizure shows the value of co-operation between law enforcement agencies in disrupting drug trafficking,” she said.

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Otola added that SAPS would continue working with its partners to stop the movement of illicit drugs across provincial borders.