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R30m Dagga Bust in Camperdown as Hawks Seize Guns and Drugs
A massive drug operation has been brought down in Camperdown, KwaZulu-Natal, after the Hawks uncovered dagga worth more than R30 million. What looked like an ordinary farm was hiding thousands of cannabis plants, processed dagga, and firearms.
Inside the raid
The intelligence-driven joint operation between the Hawks and Durban Metro Police revealed 4,165 cannabis plants, 70 buckets of processed dagga, and cultivation equipment. Officers estimate the total street value at over R30 million.
Police also confiscated six firearms and 165 live rounds of ammunition. The seized weapons have been sent for forensic testing to establish if they are linked to other crimes.
Arrest and charges
A 56-year-old man was arrested on the farm. He faces charges of cultivating and dealing in cannabis, unlawful possession of firearms, and unlawful possession of ammunition. He is expected to appear soon before the Camperdown Magistrate’s Court.
KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Major General Lesetja Senona applauded his team, describing the bust as a major breakthrough in tackling organised crime in the province.
The bigger picture
Large-scale cannabis seizures like this highlight the grey area in South Africa’s cannabis laws. While private use and small-scale cultivation have been decriminalised, commercial growing remains strictly regulated. This has left space for unlicensed farms to operate in rural areas, often fuelling underground markets.
The discovery has stirred public reaction online. Many praised the Hawks for removing both drugs and guns from circulation. Others pointed out that South Africa’s slow pace in regulating legal cannabis production may be pushing growers further into the shadows.
What’s next
The case will now go before court while investigators continue to trace the seized firearms. The Camperdown raid is already being marked as one of KwaZulu-Natal’s biggest busts of 2025, sending a clear signal that intelligence-driven policing is still uncovering hidden operations in rural South Africa.
Also read: ‘We Just Want Water,’ Ivory Park and Joburg Communities Protest Ongoing Water Crisis
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: BusinessLIVE
