Green grocer: SAPS seize big haul of dagga hidden under veggies

A roadblock in Plettenberg Bay has once again yielded an impressive haul for the South African Police Service (SAPS).

A man driving a white Hilux bakkie loaded with vegetables was stopped by a roadblock on Thursday, 23 April 2020 on the N2 highway near Plettenberg Bay. The man was unable to present police with any documentation. As a result, he was escorted to the nearest police station to verify his details. SAPS members searched the vehicle and found a sizeable stash of compressed marijuana hidden underneath bags of potatoes. 

Earlier this week SAPS in Plet intercepted a bread truck loaded with drugs. While police in KZN nabbed fake undertakers transporting dagga inside a coffin.

Dagga hidden under vegetables

“Continued efforts by the police in the Western Cape to eradicate drug trafficking into the province once again yielded positive results when drugs with an estimated street value of R650 000 was confiscated at a roadblock on Thursday, 23 April 2020 on the N2 highway near Plettenberg Bay,” SAPS spokesperson Sergeant Christopher Spies said.

“Members of the police stopped a white Toyota Hilux bakkie at a roadblock when the driver of the vehicle was unable to produce any form of documentation. Subsequently, he was escorted to the Plettenberg Bay police station to verify his credentials. On arrival, the police conducted a thorough search of the vehicle and found the dagga stashed under the vegetables.

“The police confiscated 109 parcels of compressed dagga and arrested a 35-year-old suspect on charges of dealing in drugs. It is believed that the drugs were destined for distribution in the Southern Cape.”

The suspect remains in police custody, and will make his first court appearance in the Plettenberg Bay Magistrates’ court once he has been charged for dealing in drugs, Spies said.

In an unrelated case, Knysna SAPS arrested a 25-year-old suspect in possession of 216 grams of dagga. The controlled substance was found in the vehicle that he was traveling in on the N2 highway near Sedgefield on Thursday, 23 April 2020.

The police confiscated 109 parcels of compressed dagga and arrested a 35-year-old suspect on charges of dealing in drugs. It is believed that the drugs was destined for distribution in the Southern Cape. Photo: SAPS

Knysna bust

“Vigilant members attached to the Knysna Visible Policing unit conducted routine vehicle checks when they stopped a Nissan NP200 bakkie,” Spies related.

“Upon searching the vehicle, they found a backpack with two parcels and a plastic bag containing dagga. They arrested a 25-year-old suspect on charges of possession of drugs. He will appear in the Knysna Magistrates’ court on Tuesday, 28 April 2020.

“Western Cape police management commended the members involved with the find and arrests. Similar operations on major entry and exit routes will continue to deal with drug trafficking into communities.”