Illegal dagga cultivated Threat to forfeit farm to the state

Boshof – Two suspects aged 24 and 26 appeared before the Christiana Magistrates’ Court on Friday 26 June on charges of cultivating and illegal possession of dagga with the intent to distribute.

In a multi-disciplinary controlled operation, members of the Hawks' serious organised crime unit in North West conducted several purchases with the suspect. During the second purchase, one of the suspects was arrested. A second suspect was also arrested later.

Upon visiting the farm in Boshof, Free State, the Hawks discovered that dagga was planted in a field with controlled growing processes. The national head of the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation doctor Godfrey Lebeya commended the team for having worked on this organised criminal group until they reached the source of the dagga.

“Instead of doing legitimate farming, the farm was used to illegally produce this dependence producing substance. Attention shall also be paid to the farm that was used to cultivate the substance determine as to whether it cannot be forfeited to the state,” Lebeya said.