NORTHERN CAPE — A suspected drug-dealing passenger was caught off guard after hitchhiking in an unmarked police vehicle, resulting in a swift arrest in Upington. A 29-year-old man was taken into custody by the Upington Serious Organised Crime Investigation team following the unexpected encounter on the highway.
According to a spokesperson for the investigation team, the incident began when a warrant officer was travelling from Kimberley towards Upington. The officer pulled over beside the road to make a phone call when an unknown, suspicious-looking man approached the vehicle and asked for a lift.
During the interaction, the officer detected a strong odour of dagga emanating from the individual’s bags. To avoid raising suspicion and ensure the suspect felt welcome and relaxed, the quick-thinking officer offered him a ride. The officer accepted a payment of R200 for the journey, treating it as a standard paid transaction to maintain the undercover ruse.
As the journey progressed, the suspect fell asleep in the vehicle. The officer then drove directly to the Upington Police Station to secure proper assistance for a formal search. Upon stopping, authorities searched the suspect and uncovered a significant quantity of illegal substances.
The seized items included 60 Mandrax tablets valued at R6,000, a bag of high-grade dagga valued at R5,000, loose dagga valued at R500, and R200 in cash. The suspect was immediately placed under arrest for the possession of drugs.
He is scheduled to make his first court appearance before the Upington Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 21 October 2026.
