A 57-year-old foreign national was arrested on Wednesday, 18 February 2026, for dealing in drugs following a police raid that uncovered cocaine with an estimated street value of R250,000Â .
The suspect, identified as Patrick Izuchukwu Udeh, a Nigerian national, was taken into custody during an intelligence-driven operation conducted by multiple police units. The raid was a joint effort involving the SAPS Provincial Organised Crime Investigation unit, the White River K9 unit, and the Pienaar Tactical Response Team (TRT)Â .
During the search of the premises in Matafeni, authorities recovered and seized cocaine for further forensic investigation . According to police reports, Udeh informed officers that the drugs belonged to a friend who had allegedly left them for safekeeping in late January and subsequently fled to Johannesburg .
The suspect appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court following his arrest and is scheduled to make his next court appearance on 3 March 2026
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