DAGGA LAB BUSTED

TWO DAGGA merts have had their operation busted after one of them tried to boef an e-hailing driver of his fare. 

The kwaad driver led cops to an address in Bothasig, where they caught the strong smell of dagga, leading police to the discovery of an indoor dagga cultivation laboratory. 

Police spokesperson Constable Ndakhe Gwala explained: “Members of Bothasig SAPS received a complaint from an e-hailing driver who was not paid by a 31-year-old male residing in Mill Street. 

“They accompanied the driver to the address of the suspect and found him with a 22-year-old male and he was cooperative, promising to pay the complainant.”

“In an interesting turn of events members noticed a strong smell of dagga and asked to search the place. 

“The search led to the discovery of an indoor dagga cultivation laboratory in one of the rooms.”

Gwala added: “The members seized 205 dagga plants, 87 rolled blue cheese dagga cigarettes, one silver scale, 64 rolled birthday cake dagga joints, one black book containing cultivation lessons and equipment.”

The accused, Tyrone Bester, 31, and Ganizani Gama, 22, face charges of cultivation and dealing in drugs and made a brief court appearance on 28 October at the Goodwood Magistrates Court.

Bester was granted R5 000 bail, while Gama’s bail application was postponed to 4 November.

Meanwhile, cops busted a massive R20 million worth of cocaine destined the streets of the Cape at a smallholding in Midrand, Gauteng.

According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the operation took place on Tuesday evening, 28 October 2025, when a multidisciplinary team led by crime intelligence followed up on information about drugs being stored at a plot in Blue Hills, Midrand.

A 56-year-old man has been arrested after police discovered 80 kilograms of cocaine worth R20 million hidden in a storage room at a plot in Blue Hills, Midrand.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the drugs had been brought into South Africa from a neighbouring country and were destined for Cape Town in the Western Cape.

During the search of the property, police discovered cocaine weighing about 80 kilogrammes hidden in a storage room on the identified plot.

The suspect is expected to appear before the Midrand Magistrate’s Court later this week on possible charges of possession of drugs and dealing in drugs. …