NORTHERN CAPE — A massive Colesberg dagga seizure has resulted in the confiscation of 379.3 kilograms of suspected cannabis, with an estimated street value exceeding R7,586,000. The successful interdiction occurred on the N1 highway when joint task teams from the South African Police Service (SAPS) and provincial traffic authorities disrupted an alleged cross-border drug syndicate.
The operation unfolded on Wednesday, 22 July 2026, at approximately 13:50. Acting on specific intelligence regarding a vehicle suspected of smuggling narcotics, traffic officers halted a white Foton truck at the local weighbridge. The commercial vehicle was officially transporting mobile toilets. However, during the inspection, officers noticed an overpowering scent of marijuana emanating from one of the portable restroom units, prompting them to investigate further and uncover a sizable bag.
Following the initial discovery, Colesberg SAPS members were immediately deployed to the scene to conduct an exhaustive search. Investigators ultimately unearthed seven large, bulk bags tightly sealed with sellotape, all packed with the suspected illegal substance.
The driver of the vehicle, identified as a 37-year-old foreign national, was taken into custody by the local police. He has been formally charged with dealing in dagga. In addition to the narcotics, authorities impounded both the truck and its attached trailer as part of the ongoing investigation. The suspect is slated to make his first appearance before the Colesberg Magistrates’ Court in the near future.
