A 56-year-old man was arrested after Hawks members uncovered a large-scale cannabis cultivation operation valued at around R30 million in Camperdown yesterday (September 11).

The joint operation was carried out by the Port Shepstone Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit, the Counter Narcotics team and Durban Metro Police Drug Unit.

Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Simphiwe Mhlongo said members received information about a farm that was cultivating cannabis in Camperdown.

A disruptive operation was conducted and police swooped on the said farm.

During the search, police discovered 4 165 cannabis plants, 70 buckets of processed cannabis and various items of paraphernalia. Six firearms and more than 165 live rounds of ammunition were also seized.

“Forensic experts were called to the scene and the firearms will undergo ballistic testing to determine whether they were used in other crimes,” said Mhlongo.

The man faces charges of cultivating and dealing in cannabis, as well as unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. He is expected to appear in the Camperdown Magistrate’s Court soon.

KwaZulu-Natal Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation Provincial Head, Major General Lesetja Senona, commended the work of the teams involved.

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