Police in the Northern Cape Province delivered significant blows to drug trafficking and armed robbery this week, seizing narcotics worth millions of rand and apprehending multiple suspects in coordinated operations, according to official statements.
In the Namakwa District, authorities confiscated dagga valued at approximately R7.7 million during routine patrols. “The police in the Namakwa District has dealt drug dealers a major blow, when they seized dagga worth approximately R7.7 million rand during routine patrols,” stated Captain Ivan Magerman of the South African Police in Northern Cape.
Two suspects are in custody after vigilant members noticed a suspicious vehicle with boxes loaded on the back during the early hours of Wednesday morning, 05 November 2025. “The alert police members intercepted the vehicle allegedly transporting dagga with an estimated street value of R7.7 million,” Magerman said.
Members of C relief of Steinkopf SAPS were conducting routine patrols along the N7-R382 junction near Steinkopf when they observed the vehicle. Upon searching, officers discovered dagga with a provisional weight of 64,800 kilograms. Two male suspects, both aged 33, were arrested, and the vehicle was seized. The suspects are expected to appear in court soon on charges of dealing in drugs.
“This major success reaffirms and demonstrates the SAPS continued commitment to combating drug trafficking and other related crimes in the Namakwa district,” Magerman added. “The vigilance and professionalism displayed by the members involved prevented the distribution of illegal narcotics from reaching our communities.” The District Commissioner, Brigadier Schalk Andrews, commended the members for their swift action and appreciated their efforts in squeezing crime.
In a separate cross-border operation, police from the Northern Cape and Western Cape arrested five male suspects following an armed robbery at the Kareebos Wind Farm. “The cross-border collaboration between police members from the Northern Cape and the Western Cape, led to the apprehension and arrest of five male suspects,” Magerman reported.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday morning, 04 November 2025. At approximately 02:30, members of a security company were on duty when three unknown men approached the guardhouse and threatened them with firearms. The assailants allegedly assaulted the security personnel and forced them to the site office, where they broke a window and stole radios, diesel, and cellphones.
The suspects fled in a truck, which was later spotted by a security transport vehicle. Police in the Western Cape were alerted while another security vehicle followed the truck. With assistance from Laingsburg SAPS, the truck was intercepted in the Touwsrivier area. Members of Touwsrivier SAPS apprehended the five male suspects, aged between 29 and 44, and confiscated toy guns used in the robbery. The suspects are expected to appear in court soon.
Brigadier Schalk Andrews commended the members for the collaboration between the two provinces for their swift reaction and arrests of the fleeing suspects, according to Magerman.
In the Pixley Ka Seme district, a multi-disciplinary team in Noupoort intercepted drugs valued at R20,000. “A multi-disciplinary SAPS team in Noupoort successfully intercepted and removed drugs before they could reach the streets of the town,” stated Sergeant Molefi Sheman of the South African Police in Northern Cape.
Police acted on intelligence about a man traveling from George to Noupoort suspected of possessing drugs. In the early hours of Monday, 03 November 2025, at approximately 02:30, officers spotted a man matching the description disembarking from a bus. A search revealed mandrax tablets and tik concealed in the suspect’s luggage. The 31-year-old man was arrested for possession of drugs. He will appear in court soon.
The District Commissioner of Pixley Ka Seme, Major General Nomana Mtukushe, commended the collaborative efforts of the team in preventing the distribution of drugs. “She reaffirmed that the police in Pixley Ka Seme remain steadfast in their commitment to eradicating drug-related crimes within communities during and beyond the festive season,” Sheman said.