A total of 14 individuals have been arrested following the discovery of an illegal dagga plantation in Babanango, located in northern KwaZulu-Natal. The bust took place on a five-hectare site where dagga was being cultivated.
The arrests were made during a coordinated operation by the local crime prevention unit and other supporting teams. Authorities had received a tip-off about the illegal activity and swiftly moved in on the location.
During the raid, officers seized processed cannabis, machetes, and a portion of military uniform believed to be part of the South African National Defence Force gear. The estimated value of the recovered dagga runs into thousands of rands.
Of the 14 suspects arrested, ten are foreign nationals. The group, ranging in age from 19 to 40, is expected to appear in the Babanango Magistrate’s Court soon.