READ: 2 major drug busts in Beaufort West.

Beaufort West, April 27, 2025 – In a decisive crackdown on drug trafficking, Beaufort West police have seized marijuana worth approximately R900,000 in two operations along the N1 main road within three days, arresting two suspects in the process. These busts are part of an intensified campaign to curb the flow of drugs into the Central Karoo and Western Cape.

On Thursday, April 24, 2025, at around 17:30, the Central Karoo flash patrol, alongside other law enforcement units, conducted a roadblock on the N1. A Toyota Hilux was stopped, and a search uncovered a suitcase containing 16 packets of marijuana valued at R90,000. A 41-year-old man was arrested.

Two days later, on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at approximately 19:45, the same patrol unit manned a vehicle checkpoint at the entrance to Beaufort West. A Toyota RAV4 was pulled over after officers detected the smell of marijuana. A search revealed nine bags of marijuana, worth R823,000, hidden under a blanket in the vehicle’s rear. The 45-year-old driver was apprehended.

Both suspects remain in custody and are scheduled to appear in the Beaufort West Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, facing drug trafficking charges.

Sergeant Christopher Spies, police spokesperson, hailed the operations as a success in the ongoing fight against drugs. “Through strategic deployments along highways, we are disrupting the drug trade and protecting our communities,” Spies said. He confirmed that these efforts will persist over the long weekend and beyond, with Western Cape police management commending the team’s vigilance.

The operations highlight the N1’s role as a key trafficking route and underscore the police’s commitment to tackling drug-related crime. While no additional sources have yet corroborated these incidents, the seizures align with prior significant busts in the region, such as a 2023 operation yielding R3 million in of Mandrax tablets on the same highway.

These latest arrests mark a significant step in safeguarding the Western Cape from the scourge of drugs, with police vowing to maintain pressure on trafficking networks.