Picture: Some of the drugs seized by the police/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
16 September 2026 – Two suspects have been arrested and dagga worth more than R74 000 seized during separate intelligence-driven operations in Vioolsdrift and Pella, Northern Cape. The operations were conducted on 11 September 2026, after police received a tip-off about suspected drug dealing in the two areas.
The Namakwa District police spokesperson, Captain Ivan Magerman said in Vioolsdrift, members of the SAPS K9 Unit in Springbok and Vioolsdrift SAPS acted on a tip-off about suspected drug dealing at a residence in Rooiwal at about 7.15am. Magerman said the police seized dagga with an estimated street value of R7 000 and an undisclosed amount of cash suspected to be proceeds from illicit drug sales.
“A 38-year-old man was arrested for dealing in dagga and appeared in the local Magistrate’s Court. Later that morning, at about 10:30am, police acted on information from community members regarding suspected drug dealing in Pella. A 33-year-old woman was arrested and dagga worth approximately R67 715.30 was seized, along with identity documents and bank cards.
“The woman faces charges of dealing in dagga and contravening the National Credit Act and has appeared in court. The Namakwa District Management commended the members involved and thanked the community members who provided information that assisted the operations,” he said.
Magerman further said these successes reaffirm the commitment of the police in the Namakwa district to dismantling the drug trade, disrupting the supply of illicit substances and bringing those involved in the distribution of drugs to justice. He added that the district said the operations form part of its efforts to use intelligence, operational capabilities and community information to identify and target people involved in the illicit drug trade.
“The police issued a stern warning to those involved in drug dealing, saying there is no safe haven for the illicit drug trade in the Namakwa District. We will continue to disrupt and dismantle criminal networks through intelligence-driven policing and decisive law enforcement action,” said Magerman.
He said the SAPS also call on communities to continue working with police by providing information that could assist in removing drugs from the streets.
The Guardian 