11 arrested in R5-million drug bust
BRYANSTON - The Hawks have arrested eleven suspects involved in a R5 million hydroponic dagga operation in Gauteng and the North West Province in the early morning on 27 November.
Spokesperson for the Hawks Captain Paul Ramaloko said thirteen properties were raided in Sandton, Bryanston, Johannesburg and Hartbeespoort by the Hawks in a sting operation, in conjunction with the National Task Force and Crime Intelligence.
Ramaloko said they are unsure of how long the syndicate had been operating, adding, “The team uncovered three hydrophonic dagga laboratories and processing equipment valued at million of rands.”
He added that R200 000 believed to be the operation’s profit and about R5 million worth of wet and dry dagga was seized .
Ramaloko said, “A syndicate family consisting of a father and mother with their three sons and their three daughters-in-laws, and three other friends of their sons, were arrested for participating in this family criminal enterprise.”
The acting national head of Organised Crime Unit of the Hawks Brigadier Ebrahim Kadwa applauded the investigating team for their stellar work. “If a family can be involved in crime and fail to raise the alarm, then we should question our morality,” said Brigadier Kadwa.
Ramaloko concluded, “The suspects will appear in the Randburg, Pretoria, and Krugersdorp Magistrates’ Court for dealing in dagga on 1 December.”
