The Hawks seized about 90g of suspected cocaine during a search at a municipal flat in Emgwenya, Mpumalanga, yesterday (October 23), leading to the arrest of a brother of a police officer.

The operation targeted a member of the SAPS public order policing unit, but the officer was not found at the premises, reports the Lowvelder.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi, Hawks spokesperson in Mpumalanga, investigators uncovered two large rocks and one smaller rock of suspected cocaine weighing about 90g in total.

The officer’s brother was arrested for possession of the suspected drugs.

Nkosi said the seized substances had been secured for forensic testing, while investigations into the police officer’s alleged involvement continued.

“The suspect is expected to appear in the Waterval Boven Magistrate’s Court soon,” Nkosi said.

Drug investigations across Gauteng and Mpumalanga

The seizure comes amid other drug-related investigations reported by Caxton publications in recent weeks.

In Bethal, Mpumalanga, the Hawks recently arrested a 31-year-old man accused of dealing in crystal methamphetamine. Investigators allegedly seized about 55g of the drug, valued at R20 000, along with a weighing scale, three cellphones and a vehicle. The man had previously been arrested in connection with a separate drug-dealing case.

In Gauteng, police and the Hawks uncovered a suspected drug-manufacturing laboratory in the Krugersdorp area earlier this month. Five people were arrested after officers reportedly found quantities of Mandrax and ecstasy tablets, as well as equipment believed to have been used to manufacture drugs.

In a separate operation in North Riding, Johannesburg, Honeydew police seized suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of R300m. A vehicle allegedly displaying false registration numbers was also impounded. No arrests had been made at the time of publishing.

The investigation into the Emgwenya seizure remains ongoing. The suspected cocaine is awaiting forensic testing, and the police officer’s alleged involvement has not been established.

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