By Daily Press staff
An African man was arrested by Santa Monica Police for allegedly smuggling 135 pounds of marijuana from South Africa to Southern California.
Sweet Banda was arrested by SMPD’s narcotics officers on Saturday after they watched him for two days, said SMPD Lt. Frank Fabrega.
SMPD received a tip from the U.S. Customs Task Force that Banda was allegedly planning to smuggle several kilos of marijuana in African-carved wood products.
After two days of surveillance, SMPD officers served a search warrant at Banda’s home in Upland, located near San Bernardino. They found 56 wooden chess boards, each containing two pounds of marijuana. The total street value for the drugs is $65,000, Fabrega said.
Banda was transported from Santa Monica Jail on Tuesday to the LAX Courthouse for his initial court appearance. He is being held on $1 million bail, and was charged with transporting and possession of marijuana for the purpose of sale.
An SMPD narcotics officer is a member of the U.S. Task Force, which allowed SMPD to take the case.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 22, 2003. Read the original PDF.