In an intelligence-driven operation, suspects aged 35 and 65 were arrested by the East London based Serious Organised Crime Investigation (SOCI) team of the Hawks, Crime Intelligence, K9 unit, Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) in Aliwal North and Lady Grey respectively on charges of operating a dagga plantation and numerous counts of dealing in drugs.
Heeding a call about a farm that was operating as a dagga plantation, a number of purchases were successfully done and surveillance was conducted at the farm.
On Monday, 07 February 2022, the team proceeded to the farm in Lady Grey where they met a 35-year-old man who is alleged to be the consultant of the dagga farm owner who was absent at the time. The main purpose of the farm is to plant, cultivate, dry, and sell dagga. Plants and dry dagga to the street value of R600 000 were confiscated. An R4 million worth of structure that is reported to be used in the processing of the plants was also identified. The investigation led the team to Aliwal North where a 65-year-old man was arrested for numerous charges of dealing in dagga.
More arrests are imminent as the investigation is in progress. The duo will appear shortly in the Lady Grey and Aliwal North Magistrates’ courts.