Nigerian Man and South African Woman Caught Selling R40,000 Worth of Drugs to Undercover Police

Authorities in North West Province have arrested a 48-year-old Nigerian man and a 33-year-old South African woman on charges of drug possession and trafficking.

The arrests happened on Wednesday during an operation by the Hawks, North West drug task team, and Lichtenburg K9 unit.

Lieutenant Colonel Tinyiko Mathebula, spokesperson for the Hawks, explained that the arrests followed a tip-off about a Nigerian man allegedly selling drugs in Lichtenburg.

“An undercover operation was conducted, which led to the arrest of the pair soon after selling drugs valued at R40,000. [Around] 649 mandrax tablets, 40 packets of crystal meth and transparent plastic containing CAT drugs were seized,” said Mathebula.

Officers later searched the Nigerian man’s home, where they found more crystal meth worth R15,000 and CAT drugs valued at R6,000.

While processing the suspects, a 28-year-old South African woman, identified as the Nigerian man’s girlfriend, tried to bribe the police to secure his release.

“She was subsequently arrested and charged with corruption,” Mathebula added.

The three suspects are scheduled to appear in the Lichtenburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

In a separate case earlier this month, IOL reported the arrest of three Mozambican nationals in Johannesburg for drug possession.

According to Captain Lloyd Ramovha, spokesperson for the Hawks in Gauteng, law enforcement officials seized a significant quantity of drugs during an operation in the Cleveland area on December 2, 2024.

The operation led to the arrest of three Mozambican nationals – Alexandre Alberto Chissano, 62, Raul Silvadore Homo, 51, and Antonio Lisboa, 33 – along with the confiscation of a large amount of illegal drugs.