Overview
- Police intercepted a Toyota Quantum taxi and a Hyundai on the R527 near Snake Park on the night of 30–31 May and discovered a large hidden consignment of cannabis.
- Searches uncovered 130 bags of dagga that police estimate are worth about R11 million, a quantity officials say points to organised distribution rather than personal use.
- Three men aged 34–35 were arrested on charges of dealing in dagga and were due to appear in the Hoedspruit Magistrate’s Court on Monday as investigations continue.
- The operation, called Shanela II, was led by Hoedspruit SAPS working with Farm Watch and included follow‑up patrols of villages, farms, an airport and banking locations to boost visibility and deterrence.
- Police say preliminary findings link the consignment to Eswatini, and authorities are pursuing wider trafficking leads that could disrupt cross‑border supply routes and protect local communities.