Police Seize R1.5 Million in Drugs from Truck in Free State

Law enforcement officials in the Free State intercepted a truck carrying an estimated R1.5 million worth of illegal drugs over the weekend, following weeks of surveillance. Provincial police spokesperson Constable Kelello Patsa stated that an inquiry docket was opened after authorities monitored information regarding a vehicle allegedly transporting narcotics from Cape Town to Alrode in Johannesburg.

On Saturday, November 7, 2026, at approximately 12:00 p.m., the Tracing and Narcotics Team received intelligence that the targeted truck was traveling and allegedly carrying dagga and other drugs. Officers immediately operationalized the information and spotted the vehicle along the N1 South.

Police pulled the truck over, identified themselves to the driver, and explained why the vehicle was being stopped. Officers then instructed the driver to follow them so the truck could be escorted to the Parys SAPS station for a thorough search in a secure environment.

However, as they approached the police station, the driver unexpectedly leaped out of the moving truck approximately 100 meters away and fled on foot. Law enforcement officers continued to the station and conducted a search of the abandoned vehicle.

During the search, police discovered 452 bales of dagga, each weighing one kilogram, alongside seven packs of Mandrax, also weighing one kilogram each. Authorities estimated the total street value of the confiscated substances to be R1.5 million.

Investigators subsequently contacted the registered owner of the truck. While the owner confirmed ownership of the vehicle, they firmly denied any knowledge of or association with the illegal drugs hidden inside.

Police have officially seized the narcotics and impounded the truck as investigations continue. Authorities are actively searching for the driver who escaped on foot.