The Hawks’ South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau team, the Crime Intelligence Counter Narcotics and Gangs unit, the K9 Unit and the Cape Twon Flying Squad launched a major operation in Cape Town’s upmarket suburb of Constantia on Friday 2 December 2022. 

Acting on a tip-off, they raided a house at a location not yet disclosed and during the search and seizure operation they say they found a major cannabis hydroponics laboratory.

The police statement says that “during the search, the team established that inside the premises, seven rooms were used for cultivation of cannabis. An assortment of several dagga plants were reportedly found in the premises. Six bags of dagga heads, six kilograms of dagga heads, 754 dagga trees, 10 kilograms of dried dagga stems with heads on and 315 rounds of ammunition were found. All-inclusive value of cannabis surpasses R1.5 million”.

The police then arrested 24 year old Joseph Hughes, who appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on 5 December 2022 facing charges of dealing and operating a hydroponic cannabis laboratory. He was released on R50 000 bail following his court appearance and the matter was postponed to 24 February 2023 for further investigation.

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