IOL reported on 9 January 2023 that a suspect with bags of cannabis has been released on bail for a fraction of the amount of the cannabis confiscatedf.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said Ntando Ntimane was "found in possession of several bags, with name tags, stuffed with dagga."

“Police in Malelane acted swiftly to a tip off which led to the arrest of a 29-year-old suspect, Ntando Ntimane, for possession of bags stuffed with 114 kilograms of dagga estimated at R1 710 000 street value in a vehicle that was hidden in the sugarcane farm about two kilometres out of town on Wednesday,” said Mohlala.

Police were alerted to the suspicious vehicle by members of a local security company.

“Without a waste of time, police responded to the complaint in the identified location,” said Mohlala.

“Only the driver was found in the vehicle and upon searching the vehicle, bags with different name tags on them stuffed with dagga were recovered.

“The suspect was arrested and made a brief court appearance in Nkomazi Magistrate's court sitting in Tonga where he was granted R1 000 bail,” he said.

Ntimane is expected to make his second court appearance on 3 February 2022.

Meanwhile in the Western Cape, police have confiscated cannabis worth R300 000 at an operation in the Klein Karoo.

SAPS says the confiscation of cannabis was the result of the police’s Safer Festive Season operations with the maxim, “more boots on the ground towards enhanced police visibility”.

According provincial police spokesperson Sergeant Christopher Spies, on Wednesday, 4 January 2023 at about 7.30am, rural flying squad members on the R62 spotted a silver Volkswagen Polo travelling at high speed. 

“The vigilant members immediately gave chase and brought it to a halt at the entrance to Calitzdorp,” Spies said.

“While approaching they got a scent of cannabis and proceeded with a search when they found two black bags on the back seat of the vehicle, containing 20 kilograms of dagga with an estimated street value of R160 000. 

“The 39-year-old driver was arrested on a charge of dealing in drugs and the find was confiscated as evidence,” Spies said.

Later the same day at 7.30pm, Oudtshoorn Crime Prevention Unit members acting on intelligence stopped a minibus en route to Oudtshoorn from George along the N12. 

“A search of the vehicle ensued which led to the discovery of two bags of dagga weighing 16 kilograms.

“The members confiscated the consignment with an estimated street value of R128 000 and arrested a 32-year-old man linked to the find on a charge of possession of drugs,” Spies said.

Also, various units in the Garden Route District embarked on crime combatting operations in the Heidelberg, Uniondale and Mossel Bay precincts to rid these communities of crime.

These operations aimed against drug and liquor abuse were conducted from 3 January 2023 and resulted in the confiscation of 239 dagga stops, an additional 40 grams of dagga, 74 grams oftik, 562 dagga plants and 117 litres of liquor.

Western Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile, praised the commitment of those deployed during the Safer Festive Season operations and welcomed the large quantities of drugs confiscated.

“These operations form part of concerted efforts by police to safeguard communities and visitors to the region during the festive period and beyond,” Patekile said.