A 30-year-old was arrested and is expected in court after an intelligence-driven operation uncovered trees of dagga and bottles containing dry dagga and dagga seeds.
The team received intelligence about a plot in Barberton
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) spokesperson in Mpumalanga Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi said the multidisciplinary intelligence-driven disruptive search and seizure operation was conducted on Friday, 23 September.
Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team in Nelspruit together with the White River K9 conducted the search and seizure with the aim of eradicating the manufacturing of drugs within the Barberton community.
The team received intelligence regarding a plot in Barberton where drugs were being manufactured and peddled. After receiving authorization from a court, the team entered, search and seized every drug-related item.
Dagga trees, dried dagga and seeds were found
“On arrival at the identified address, the team found the trees of dagga, bottles containing dry dagga and dagga seeds,” Captain Sekgotodi.
The suspect was immediately arrested and charged accordingly. Sekgotodi says he is expected to appear before the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 26 September. The exhibits seized from the address will be heading to a laboratory for further investigation.
The arrest was conducted after following intelligence about a plot in Barberton where drugs were being manufactured and peddled. Image: SAPS
Vanderbijlpark: R5 million worth illegal drug lab dismantled
Mpumalanga Hawks Head Major General Zodwa Mokeonna ‘cherished’ the team’s collaboration in ensuring that drug laboratories are dismantled and suspects are brought to book.
Earlier this year it was reported that three men were arrested after police discovered a R5 million illegal drug manufacturing laboratory in Vanderbijlpark.
The trio’s apprehension emanated from a search and seizure operation conducted by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation in Germiston, Counter Narcotics, Crime Intelligence, Head Office and West Rand K9 on Tuesday, 08 March.
Hawks spokesperson, Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu said the investigation team kept surveillance at a positively identified premises where suspicions of drug activities were reported at Ardenworld in the Vanderbijlpark area. Read the full story here.
