| 2025/02/08 |
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Media Statement
POLOKWANE – A major breakthrough in the fight against drug trafficking was made by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Limpopo on 07 February 2025, when a 35-year-old male suspect was arrested in Northam, Waterberg District, for trafficking a substantial quantity of dagga worth over R15 million. The operation, based on intelligence-driven efforts, resulted in the successful interception of a truck transporting the illegal substance. At approximately 21:00, the Northam detectives received critical information about a truck en route to Zambia via the R511 Brits road, suspected to be carrying illicit goods. In response, a joint operation was swiftly activated, with the collaboration of Visible Policing, the Community Policing Forum (CPF), and Rural Safety units, who set up surveillance along the junction of the Brits-Northam road. The truck, matching the description provided, was stopped for a routine check. A thorough search of the vehicle uncovered a staggering 44 bales of compressed dagga, hidden between bedding, pillows, and mattresses. The total weight of the dagga is estimated at approximately 45 kilograms per bale, with an estimated street value of R8,000 per kilogram, bringing the total value of the confiscated drugs to a staggering R15,840,000. The driver, a South African citizen, was arrested on the spot, and the truck with the dagga was confiscated. The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe commended the meticulous investigation and further highlighted that this operation marks a significant achievement in the ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking and protect the community from the devastating effects of illicit drugs.
The suspect was charged with dealing in drugs and will appear before the Northam Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 10 February 2025.
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