Law enforcement officers have intercepted a significant consignment of illicit cannabis, weighing 245 kilograms and valued at an estimated R1.4 million, during an operation conducted outside Newcastle.
According to reports, the operation took place on Sunday, 19 April 2026, after Vryheid SAPS Rural Safety alerted Newcastle police to intelligence indicating that two vehicles were transporting unregulated cannabis towards the town.
Following the information, Newcastle SAPS spokesperson Lizzy Arumugam confirmed that an operational team, comprising police officers and Optimus Protection Services, was deployed to monitor movement along the R34, where the vehicles were expected to pass through.
According to Hamza Randeree of Optimus Protection Services, the operation was shaped by intelligence pointing to a coordinated convoy arrangement between two vehicles, with one acting in advance of the other.
“We unheard the car was acting as a lookout vehicle, while the Toyota Hilux bakkie was carrying the cannabis and money, so we waited for the lookout vehicle to first pass by without seeing the operational team, before we targeted the bakkie,” explained Hamza Randeree of Optimus Protection Services.
Furthermore, Arumugam stated that officers maintained surveillance for approximately one hour before the suspected lookout vehicle passed the operational point.
The second vehicle, believed to be carrying the illicit cargo, followed around 10 minutes later.
“When the driver of the Hilux bakkie was instructed to pull over, he refused and began making attempts to flee from members,” said Arumugam.
In response, Randeree noted that officers immediately initiated a pursuit, which came to an end when the vehicle allegedly struck a ditch and came to a halt. Following which, the suspect was arrested on site.
Thereafter, Arumugam confirmed that a search of the vehicle uncovered 13 bales of cannabis, valued at approximately R1.4 million, along with R14 000 in cash.
While investigations remain ongoing, Randeree said incidents of this nature continue to surface with concerning regularity in and around Newcastle, reflecting an ongoing enforcement challenge.
“Drugs are often brought into Newcastle from other towns, and while the situation is being monitored, this is a serious issue, which only aggravates the drug problem in Newcastle further. It also poses serious risks to users, as they don’t really know what they are getting,” concluded Randeree.
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One Response
Why does media not disclose the identity of these criminals?