While cannabis remains part of the Drugs Act, police are treating the plant as a narcotic like heroin or cocaine. SAPS raids on illicit cannabis grow ops and drug labs in the last six months (over 30) indicates the increased involvement of international players in the local market – and the fact that cannabis is just one of the many drugs they are dealing with.

Although cannabis is due to be dropped from the Drugs Act, there are still penalties under the new Cannabis Act for possessing “trafficable quantities” of cannabis with a maximum sanction of 10 years in jail.  The Act, however, has not yet been put into operation, and when it does the Drugs Act will automatically be amended to exclude cannabis. There is no clear time frame on this and equally no clarity as to what law suspects in cannabis-dealing cases will be charged under.

Despite these legal fineries, SAPS clearly still sees cannabis as a target in the 'war against drugs', with Police Commissioner Fanie Masemola congratuliting police for their latest clampdown.

“In Port Alfred in the Eastern Cape, R30 million worth of cannabis and cannabis-related products were seized during a DPCI-led operation this week” , vowing to continue to "rid the streets of drugs that destroy families, especially young people who are the future leaders.

The Hawks say they“descended on the large-scale hydroponic cannabis cultivation and packaging facility" on a property north-east of Port Alfred last week.  Five men were arrested, three of whom were foreign nationals. The two South Africans have been released on R10 000 bail each. Police say the investigation is ongoing and their next appearance will be in court on 4 November 2024.

Lt Gen Masemola pointed to the increased involvement of foreign nationals in locl drug production – three of those arrested in Port Alfred were foreign nationals, while two foreign nationals were among the five arrested after an R80m drug lab was shut in Douglasdale, Johannesburg where mandrax tablets with a street value of R10m.

The largest recent bust was that of a crystal meths lab in Limpopo province, where five Mexicans are among those who remain in custody. A Russian national was arrested after Western Cape police bust a maritime cocaine-smuggling operation recently. SAPS says that nationally they have dismantled over 30 “drug labs” this year.

Hawks head Major General Mboika Obed Ngwenya hailed the Port Alfred arrests as a success of the “systematic investigative mechanisms aimed at dismantling organized crime networks and bringing the perpetrators to justice.”

SAPS also reports a major cannabis bust this month in Upington in the Northern Cape.  SAPS said the operation was undertaken by the Upington Border Police on Thursday, 5 September 2024.

“The members reacted to information about a Toyota bakkie that was allegedly transporting drugs. The vehicle was intercepted a few kilometres outside of Upington and after searching it, police discovered dagga with an estimated street value of R3 915 000-00 in the vehicle. The two male occupants aged 52 and 27 respectively were arrested for dealing in dagga” read the statement.

Cannabiz Africa understands that the suspects in all cases are being charged under the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act which is due to be amended soon to drop cannabis from the act altogether. Activists have been critical of police successes in cannabis arrests saying they are hollow victories for the headlines and that none of these cases will be result in successful prosecutions because of legal uncertainty.

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