This after Russel de Beer was arrested on 9 November 2019 with dagga with a street value worth R3 million. OFM News reported that he appeared in the Brits Magistrate’s Court on 11 November and that his formal bail application was postponed.

De Beer faces charges of contravening the Medicine and Related Substances Act and dealing in dagga.

On Saturday 9 November, The Serious Organised Crime Unit of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, with members of the Forensic Science Laboratory and Local Criminal Record Centre, descended on a hydroponic dagga lab allegedly owned by De Beer and seized at least 500kg of dagga, apparatuses and other cannabis products. It is alleged that De Beer also sells franchises for dagga dispensaries and is a major supplier of so-called medicinal dagga and related products in the country.

Tlangelani Rikhotso, spokesperson of the North West Hawks, told OFM News she applauds the investigative work of her team and warned that dealing in dagga is still considered a criminal offence.

OFM News/Marvin Ntsane