Standerton crash leads to seizure of 97kg of dagga worth R582,000, two arrested

Two men, aged 32 and 26, have been arrested for allegedly dealing in drugs after police discovered 97 kilograms of dagga following a motor vehicle accident near Standerton in Mpumalanga.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, 3 June 2026, on the R39 road at the Grootdraai Dam T-Junction. Members of Standerton Visible Policing responded to reports of a collision involving a silver Toyota Yaris and a white VW Polo.

Upon arrival, officers found the Toyota Yaris stationary on the roadway with severe damage to the driver's side. The driver was unresponsive and was transported to a local medical facility by emergency services for treatment.

Police then inspected the VW Polo, which had come to a stop in a nearby field. The driver told officers he had been travelling with a passenger. During a search of the vehicle, police allegedly found several black plastic bags containing dagga.

The driver and passenger were immediately arrested, and police seized a total of 97 kilograms of dagga with an estimated street value of R582,000. The VW Polo, which carried Northern Cape registration plates, was also confiscated as part of the investigation.

Neither suspect was injured in the crash.

The pair face charges of dealing in drugs, while the driver has also been charged with reckless and negligent driving. They are expected to appear in the Standerton Magistrate's Court soon.

Acting Mpumalanga Provincial Commissioner Major General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi praised officers for their vigilance, saying the seizure highlighted SAPS' commitment to combating drug trafficking and protecting communities from the impact of illegal drugs.

He commended members for turning what appeared to be a routine accident response into a significant drug bust.