Four suspects, aged between 40 and 47, are scheduled to appear before the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 2 March 2026, following their arrest in a major drug bust along the N2 highway.
The arrests stem from an intelligence-driven operation conducted on Thursday, 26 February 2026, by members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) from Sheepmoor.
According to police reports, authorities received information regarding vehicles suspected of transporting dagga along the N2 route from Piet Retief towards Ermelo. Acting on the tip-off, members established a Vehicle Check Point (VCP) near a farm along the specified road.
During the operation, two vehicles—a Toyota Quantum and a Ford Ranger, both bearing Gauteng registration plates—were stopped and searched. Upon inspection, officers discovered a substantial quantity of dagga concealed inside both vehicles.
From the Toyota Quantum, police seized 28 bags of dagga weighing approximately 280 kilograms. The estimated street value of this consignment is R 1,680,000. In the Ford Ranger, officers found three bags of dagga weighing approximately 10.8 kilograms, with an estimated street value of R 65,000.
In total, four suspects were apprehended and have since been charged with dealing in dagga. They are expected to face formal charges when they appear in court on Monday.