Drug busts raise alarm over Hoedspruit trafficking routes

More than R17m worth of dagga has been seized around Hoedspruit in recent months. Is the town becoming a major trafficking corridor?

16 hours ago

Anwen Mojela 2 minutes read

Bundles of dagga found in a minibus and laid out on the road after two vehicles were intercepted along the R527 near the Hoedspruit Reptile Centre on May 31.

HOEDSPRUIT – A string of multimillion-rand drug seizures and arrests has raised serious concerns that Hoedspruit could be emerging as a major trafficking corridor, with police confiscating more than R17m worth of dagga in recent months.

Latest crackdown nets 6 suspects

The latest crackdown, conducted during Operation Shanela II from October 5 to 7, saw police joining forces with Hoedspruit Farm Watch and community patrollers to target criminal activities across the policing area.

The operation resulted in six arrests, including four suspects allegedly linked to a business robbery, one for allegedly dealing in dagga and another for possession of illicit cigarettes.

Police recovered dagga valued at approximately R120 000, along with 12 boxes containing about 600 cartons of illicit cigarettes worth an estimated R90 000.

Cartons of cigarettes seized during the operation.

Two firearms, including a pellet gun, and two vehicles allegedly used in criminal activities were also seized. Police also closed one shebeen during the operation.

READ: Hoedspruit police and Farm Watch seize dagga, cigarettes

2 dagga busts on Hoedspruit’s roads in a week

The latest arrests follow a disturbing pattern of large-scale drug interceptions that has placed Hoedspruit’s surrounding roads under increasing scrutiny.

On June 17, police and Farm Watch members intercepted three vehicles along the R531 between Klaserie and the Hoedspruit Reptile Centre, recovering 34 bags of dagga worth approximately R3m. Six suspects, aged between 18 and 37, were arrested.

READ: Police seize R3m worth of dagga near Hoedspruit

The dagga recovered along the R531 between Klaserie and the Hoedspruit Reptile Centre on June 17.

Just six days earlier, officers intercepted a Toyota Hilux travelling from Acornhoek towards Hoedspruit, discovering 31 bags of dagga valued at R1.575m.

Two suspects, aged 38 and 43, were arrested.

Bundles of dagga laid out next to a Toyota Hilux that was intercepted while travelling from Acornhoek towards Hoedspruit on June 11.

READ: Hoedspruit police bust R1.5m dagga consignment

Earlier seizures include R11m and R2m hauls

Another breakthrough occurred on May 31 when police intercepted two vehicles along the R527 near the Hoedspruit Reptile Centre, uncovering 130 bags of dagga worth approximately R11m.

Bundles of dagga recovered from one of the two vehicles intercepted along the R527 on May 31.

Three suspects were arrested, while preliminary investigations indicated that the consignment originated in Eswatini and was destined for distribution elsewhere in South Africa.

READ: R11m dagga bust near Hoedspruit, 3 arrested

Busts stretch back to March

In March, police also seized 22 bags of suspected Swazi Gold cannabis worth more than R2m from a vehicle entering the Hoedspruit CBD, leading to the arrest of a 38-year-old foreign national.

Some of the 22 bags of suspected Swazi Gold cannabis seized in March from a vehicle entering the Hoedspruit CBD.

READ: R2m dagga bust as police arrest 27 in Limpopo

Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Jan Scheepers welcomed the latest successes and commended law enforcement members and community stakeholders for their commitment to combating crime.

All suspects arrested during the October operation have appeared before their respective magistrate’s courts.

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