A multidisciplinary operation by the Hawks in Mpumalanga has resulted in the arrest of a 71-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman following the discovery of a dagga plantation, processed dagga extract, two rifles, two handguns and a large quantity of live ammunition at a farm outside Nelspruit.
The two accused are expected to appear before the Nelspruit District Court today.
“The operation conducted on Wednesday followed intelligence received by the Hawks that dagga was allegedly being cultivated and possessed at a farm in the Nelspruit area,” the Hawks said in a statement.
The Nelspruit Serious Organised Crime Investigation (SOCI) opened an enquiry and commenced investigations.
The intelligence was subsequently operationalised through a coordinated, multidisciplinary intervention involving SOCI, the White River K9 unit, the National Intervention Unit (NIU), Tactical Response Team (TRT) and the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) in Nelspruit.
“During the operation, members searched the identified premises and uncovered an established dagga plantation, processed dagga extract, two rifles and two handguns, as well as a substantial quantity of live ammunition. Preliminary information indicates that the firearm licences had expired.
“The 71-year-old man and 32-year-old woman were arrested and are facing charges relating to the Contravention of the Firearms Control Act and the Contravention of the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act, including the cultivation and possession of dagga,” the Hawks said.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, Major General Nico Gerber, welcomed the coordinated intervention, emphasising that multidisciplinary operations remain critical in disrupting criminal activities involving drugs and illegal firearms.
“This operation demonstrates the value of intelligence-led and multidisciplinary policing. By bringing together specialised capabilities, we were able to move from information to decisive action, disrupting the cultivation and possession of dagga, while simultaneously removing firearms and ammunition from the environment.
“We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and dismantle criminal activities that threaten the safety of our communities,” said Gerber.
The investigation continues and additional charges may be considered as the seized items undergo further assessment. – SAnews.gov.za
