Swazi police seize R1.7m of dagga in Hhohho region
Police in Swaziland confiscated marijuana worth R1.7 million, about 295,000 US dollars, from small-scale farmers in the northern Hhohho region in early December 2004, saying the compressed packages were bound for South Africa and Europe.
Police confiscated marijuana worth R1.7 million, about 295,000 US dollars, from small-scale farmers in the Hhohho region north of the capital Mbabane in the week before 13 December 2004.[1]The dagga, as cannabis is known in southern Africa, had been compressed into packages ready for transport to neighbouring South Africa and onward to Europe, particularly the Netherlands.[1]A Royal Swaziland Police Force source said interdiction and crop eradication remained government policy but had barely dented cultivation or supply in the northern region.[1]
Aerial spraying of marijuana fields with defoliants had stopped in 2002 for budget reasons, leaving only a small band of police inspectors to carry out eradication.[1]The report estimated that 70 percent of smallholder farmers in Hhohho grew dagga as a cash crop, quoting farmers who said maize could not match its income.[1]
Case data
Every number and detail the sources state, with the sources that state it.
The article gives no separate date for the raid, so 13 December 2004 is its publication date and the raid was described only as the previous week.
No weight for the cannabis or number of farmers was published, so only the police value is recorded.
No photograph of the seizure with a recoverable direct image address was found, and the article photo shows a generic homestead rather than this event.
UEDF troops intercepted more than 430 kg of dagga worth E378,965 in three border incidents on 26 October 2026: a Ford Focus abandoned at Machobeni yielded 292 kg, and a Toyota Tazz at Mpuluzi held 135 kg with two men arrested. One driver fled on foot; all exhibits were handed to law enforcement.
Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force troops seized 16.8kg of dagga worth E16,800 in three border interceptions between 5 and 14 August 2026 at Nsubane and Hluthi. Two men were arrested in the vehicle interception and all suspects, vehicles and consignments were handed to law enforcement for investigation.
UEDF troops at a Mashayineni checkpoint seized 510.3 kg of dagga worth E510,300 in June 2026 operations: 107.1 kg in a Nissan Murano on 23 June with two men arrested, 403.2 kg in a Toyota Hilux an hour later with its driver arrested, while four Zimbabweans were stopped crossing illegally at Sivule on 25 June.
A 29-year-old man from KaMkhweli, under Chief Mshengu, was charged before Siteki Magistrate Machawe Bhembe with being found in possession of dagga plants weighing 46.463kg. He had been arrested the previous Friday, and the published account stops after the opening of his case.