Johannesburg - About four tons of dagga, seized before it could be smuggled out of the country in apple boxes, is due to go up in smoke on Wednesday.
Phumzile Kotane, a National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, said on Tuesday that drugs, mostly dagga, were seized in the Scorpions' Operation Appleton in Cape Town, which foiled an international drug trade worth about R364m.
Kotane said: "Operation Appleton ended in July 2006 with the arrest of two British nationals and a South African.
"The trio was caught in the act of hiding tons of drugs in boxes of apples that were being exported.
"A warehouse used to store more drugs was discovered later by the investigators.
Evidence must be kept
"It was clear the intention was to smuggle the drugs into the United Kingdom."
The three were convicted of trafficking in drugs and given sentences ranging from five to 12 years and fines.
Tlali Tlali, another NPA spokesperson, said the drugs could not be destroyed until the court case and any appeals were over.
He said: "You don't interfere with exhibits of evidence until the trial has been concluded."
The drugs are due to be burnt in the Western Cape on Wednesday afternoon.
On a related note, I have a video of a BBC reporter who, reported about a similar drug bust, downwind while the weed was being burnt, anyone have a youtube link?
