Man held with 39 blocks of dagga worth R1.2m at Oshoek
Mpumalanga police arrested a 31-year-old man at the Oshoek borderline on 4 May 2022 with 39 blocks of dagga and an unlicensed firearm. Police valued the dagga at R1.2 million and seized the Toyota Hilux; the suspect was due in the Eerstehoek Magistrate's Court.
🇿🇦 Sector One along Oshoek Borderline, Mpumalanga · South Africa
Mpumalanga police arrested a 31-year-old man on 4 May 2022 after stopping his
vehicle at Sector One along the Oshoek borderline.[1]Officers on routine
patrol duties had spotted the suspicious Toyota Hilux bakkie before stopping and
searching it.[2]Inside the bakkie they found 39 blocks of dagga, as well as a
firearm in the driver’s possession for which he produced no licence.[2][3]He was
arrested on charges of dealing in dagga and possession of an unlicensed firearm.[2]
Police confiscated the dagga, which they valued at R1.2 million, together with
the vehicle.[2][3]The suspect was due to appear before the Eerstehoek
Magistrate’s Court on 5 May 2022.[4]Mpumalanga police spokesperson Colonel
Donald Mdhluli gave the account of the patrol, seizure and arrest.[2]
The Mercury described the case as an attempt to bring dagga worth more than R1
million into South Africa from the Kingdom of eSwatini.[4]Provincial
commissioner Lieutenant-General Semakaleng Manamela praised the Oshoek officers
for ensuring the swift arrest of the suspect.[1]
Photos and video
Man arrested for possession of dagga with a street value of more than R1 million at Oshoek border, between South Africa and eSwatini. Picture: SAPSPhoto details
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Source: IOLA 31-year-old man appearing in court after arrest for attempting to bring dagga worth more than R1 million into South Africa from the Kingdom of eSwatini. Picture: SAPSPhoto details
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Source: The MercuryA 31-year-old man appearing in court after arrest for attempting to bring dagga worth more than R1 million into South Africa from the Kingdom of eSwatini. Picture: SAPSPhoto details
IOLiol.co.zaMan arrested with 39 blocks of dagga worth R1.2 million in Mpumalanga
IOLiol.co.zaPICS: Bid to smuggle R1 million dagga into South Africa gets armed man arrested, vehicle seized
The Mercurythemercury.co.zaPICS: Bid to smuggle R1 million dagga into South Africa gets armed man arrested, vehicle seized
Open questions the AI reported
No weight was published for the 39 blocks of dagga, so no cannabis weight in kilograms can be recorded.
The suspect's name was not published.
No court outcome beyond the scheduled appearance at the Eerstehoek Magistrate's Court on 5 May 2022 was reported.
The arrest date of 4 May 2022 comes from the Wednesday reference and the statement that the arrest was yesterday relative to 5 May publication.
The same articles mention separate earlier seizures, including three people with dagga worth about R94,256 and a 1.9 kg Jeppes Reef case, which are different events left out here.
Only the police account was published; no statement from the suspect was reported.
Police stopped a red SUV on the R81 road at Ximuwini near Malamulele and found 14 plastic refuse bags of dagga, which Limpopo police valued at an estimated R662,400. The 55-year-old driver was detained at Malamulele Police Station and was due in the Malamulele Magistrate's Court on 9 November on a charge of dealing in dagga.
Police and private security arrested a driver after a high-speed chase from Sinoville to Bon Accord in Pretoria on 7 November 2026. Officers seized 240kg of dagga with an estimated street value of R960,000 from the vehicle and confiscated the vehicle.
Mpumalanga police stopped a 39-year-old man from KwaZulu-Natal in a white Nissan NP200 at Mahamba before dawn on 3 November 2026 and found 30 rolls holding 158.2 kg of compressed dagga, which they valued at R1 million. He was charged with dealing in dagga and was expected in the Mkhondo Magistrate's Court on 5 November.
Acting on a tip-off, North West police stopped 21-year-old Lusanda Nhlangothi on the N12 near Christiana and found 4.654 kg of compressed dagga packed in two 20-litre drums. He was charged, appeared in court on 29 October and was remanded until a 5 November bail hearing.
