In a significant intelligence-driven operation, Gauteng police have arrested a 56-year-old man and confiscated cocaine with an estimated street value of R20 million from a plot in Blue Hills, Midrand.
According to police, the seizure of 80 kilograms of cocaine followed a tip-off about illegal activities at the property. A multi-unit team, including Crime Intelligence, Organized Crime, and a K9 unit, was assembled and executed a search warrant on the location.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed the details, stating, “Following up on intelligence-driven information that there are illegal activities on this plot… we obtained a search warrant and indeed… found cocaine weighing 80 kg, which is worth more than 20 million [Rand].”
The 56-year-old suspect, believed to be the owner of the property, was taken into custody. He faces possible charges of drug possession and dealing in drugs. He is expected to make his first appearance in the Midrand Magistrate’s Court later this week.
Authorities revealed that the drugs were allegedly smuggled into South Africa from a neighbouring country, with Mozambique cited as a possible point of origin. The consignment was reportedly intended for distribution in Cape Town, in the Western Cape province.
Brigadier Mathe indicated that further investigations are underway to trace the origins and route of the narcotics. “We need to check how did they come in? Were they brought in with a bus or with a truck? What route did they take?” she said. Police are also working to identify any potential accomplices, as they do not rule out the possibility that the suspect is linked to a larger drug syndicate.
This bust highlights the continued use of peri-urban plots and farm areas for major drug operations. While the R20 million seizure is substantial, police noted it follows an even larger bust in Fourways last year, where drugs valued at R300 million were confiscated. The operation has underscored the importance of acting on tip-offs and conducting random checks on warehouses and properties on the outskirts of urban centres.
