R2.6m dagga haul seized after suspects abandon Toyota Hilux on R33

A quiet stretch of road between Vaalwater and Modimolle turned into a scene straight out of a crime thriller this past weekend minus the dramatic arrest.

Instead, what was left behind was a charcoal-coloured Toyota Hilux GD-6, eight bags of dagga worth an estimated R2.6 million, and a cloud of dust where suspects vanished into nearby bushes.

High-speed chase on the R33

According to South African Police Service in Limpopo, officers acted on intelligence about three vehicles allegedly transporting dagga from Gauteng towards the N1 northbound on Saturday afternoon.

The tip-off pointed to a white Toyota Fortuner and two Toyota Hilux GD-6 bakkies heading in the direction of Modimolle.

Members of the Waterberg District police teamed up with rural safety structures and private security companies to track the convoy. The vehicles were spotted in Vaalwater travelling at high speed.

When police attempted to stop them, the drivers accelerated.

A lookout was activated, and one of the Hilux bakkies was eventually intercepted along the R33. But by the time officers reached it, the occupants had bolted, fleeing on foot into thick bushveld.

What was left behind

Inside the abandoned bakkie, police found eight large bags of dagga with a street value estimated at R2.6 million.

The vehicle has since been forfeited to the State, a significant blow for whoever owned it.

While cannabis laws in South Africa have evolved in recent years regarding private use, large-scale trafficking remains illegal. The scale of this haul suggests an organised operation rather than casual possession.

Drug routes through Limpopo are not new. With the province serving as a key corridor linking Gauteng to the north of the country and neighbouring borders, police frequently intercept contraband moving along major routes like the N1 and connecting regional roads.

Community tip-offs make a difference

Limpopo provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe praised the cooperation between police, rural safety groups and private security.

She emphasised that community information often makes the difference in cases like this, especially in rural districts where vast distances and bushveld terrain can make policing challenging.

In farming communities around Waterberg, WhatsApp safety groups and radio networks have become essential tools for sharing alerts about suspicious vehicles and unusual movements.

On local social media pages, residents applauded the seizure but expressed frustration that the suspects managed to escape.

“Good job, but we need arrests,” one commenter wrote.

The bigger picture

This incident highlights a growing trend: collaboration between law enforcement and private security in tackling organised crime in rural areas.

It also underscores how traffickers increasingly use everyday vehicles, like popular bakkies, to move illicit goods, blending into normal traffic until something goes wrong.

For now, the suspects remain at large. Police have urged anyone with information to contact investigating officer Warrant Officer Amanda Basson, call Crime Stop on 08600 10111, or use the MySAPSApp.

As the search continues, one thing is certain: along a stretch of road better known for scenic drives and weekend getaways, authorities have sent a clear message, even if suspects disappear into the bush, their cargo won’t.

{Source: IOL}

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