A 35-year-old truck driver was arrested in a major drug bust in Northam, Limpopo, after police intercepted his vehicle carrying dagga worth over R15 million.
The arrest took place on 7 February 2025 during an intelligence-driven operation by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Limpopo.
Acting on a tip-off, Northam detectives, along with the Visible Policing Unit, Community Policing Forum (CPF), and Rural Safety units, set up surveillance along the Brits-Northam road (R511).
At around 21:00, officers stopped a truck matching the description provided in the intelligence report. A thorough search of the vehicle led to the discovery of 44 bales of compressed dagga, hidden between bedding, pillows, and mattresses. Each bale weighed approximately 45 kilograms, and with dagga valued at an estimated R8,000 per kilogram, the total street value of the haul was R15,840,000.
The truck driver, a South African citizen, was immediately arrested, and both the vehicle and the drugs were seized.
Limpopo’s Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, praised the officers for their swift and coordinated response, emphasizing that this successful bust was a major step in the fight against drug trafficking in the province.
The suspect has been charged with dealing in drugs and is set to appear before the Northam Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 10 February 2025.
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