Hawks arrest man, seize R30m of cannabis and guns at Camperdown farm
Police arrested a 56-year-old man at a farm in Camperdown, KwaZulu-Natal, after a joint Hawks and Durban Metro raid found 4,165 cannabis plants, 70 buckets of processed cannabis and paraphernalia to a street value of about R30 million, along with six firearms and more than 165 live rounds. The man is to face charges for cultivation and dealing in cannabis and unlawful possession of firearms.
🇿🇦 Camperdown, uMhlathuze, KwaZulu-Natal · South Africa
One 56-year-old man was arrested in a joint Hawks and Durban Metro operation at
a farm in Camperdown, KwaZulu-Natal.[1]
Police searched the farm and found 4,165 cannabis plants, 70 buckets of
processed cannabis, and paraphernalia to a street value of about R30 million.[2]Police also confiscated six firearms and more than 165 live rounds of
ammunition, and Forensic Science Laboratory experts processed the scene.[1]
The suspect is to be charged with cultivation of cannabis, dealing in cannabis,
and unlawful possession of firearms and live rounds of ammunition, and is
expected to appear before the Camperdown Magistrate’s Court.[3]KwaZulu-Natal
Hawks Provincial Head Major General Lesetja Senona welcomed the arrest and
praised the officers for the good work.[1]
Photos and video
Hawks handout photo of the cannabis seized in the Camperdown raid. Photo: HawksPhoto details
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Source: IOLHawks handout photo of the farm in Camperdown where the R30m drug operation was uncovered. Photo: HawksPhoto details
The number of live rounds is given as 'more than 165' by IOL and 'more than 160' by East Coast Radio; the report follows IOL.
No weight in kilograms was published for the 4,165 plants or the 70 buckets of processed cannabis, so only the counts and the police street-value estimate of about R30 million could be recorded.
The court outcome of the Camperdown Magistrate's Court appearance had not been reported.
No separate date for the raid was given; 11 September 2025 is the publication date and is used as the incident date.
Free State police stopped a truck on the N1 south on 7 November 2026 and found 452 one-kilogram bales of dagga, but the driver jumped out of the moving vehicle about 100 metres from Parys police station and escaped on foot. The truck was impounded and its owner questioned; no arrest for the load had been reported.
Soldiers of 10 South African Infantry Battalion seized 78 kg of dagga valued at R473,000 during Operation CORONA patrols in the Musina area along the Limpopo River. The SANDF said the cannabis was allegedly intended to be smuggled into South Africa.
Police stopped a white Isuzu truck on the N4 near Vandyksdrift on 19 October and found 55 bags of compressed dagga weighing 1,680 kg, which they valued at R12 million. Two men who arrived in a Polo and allegedly offered the officers money were arrested with the driver.
Secunda Flying Squad officers found 103 kg of dagga worth about R800,000 in a Gauteng-registered Honda Civic stopped on the N17 near Leandra on 19 October 2026. The driver abandoned the car and fled on foot; the vehicle and the dagga were seized.
