Driver Flees Moving Truck As Police Seize R1.5 Million Drug Consignment In Free State

A truck allegedly transporting dagga and other drugs from Cape Town to Johannesburg has been seized in the Free State, with police recovering drugs worth an estimated R1.5 million.

The driver escaped after allegedly jumping out of the moving truck shortly before it reached Parys Police Station on Saturday, 7 November 2026.

Free State police spokesperson Constable Kelello Patsa said officers had been monitoring information about the truck for several weeks before launching an operation to intercept it.

Police Intercept Truck On N1 In Free State

According to Patsa, police had opened an enquiry docket following weeks of monitoring and observations linked to the suspected transportation of drugs from Cape Town to Alrode in Johannesburg.

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“On Saturday, November 7, 2026, at approximately 12pm, the Tracing and Narcotics Team received intelligence that the truck was travelling towards Cape Town, allegedly transporting dagga and other drugs. The information was immediately operationalised,” Patsa said.

Officers proceeded along the N1 South, where they spotted and stopped the truck. They identified themselves to the driver and explained why the vehicle had been pulled over.

The truck was then escorted to Parys SAPS for a search in a safe environment.

452 Bales Of Dagga And Mandrax Worth R1.5 Million Recovered

However, about 100 metres from the police station, the driver allegedly jumped out of the moving truck and fled on foot.

Police continued to the station, where they searched the vehicle and discovered 452 bales of dagga weighing 1kg each, along with seven packs of mandrax, also weighing 1kg each.

The drugs have an estimated street value of R1.5 million.

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Police contacted the truck's owner and requested that they report to Parys SAPS after the driver abandoned the vehicle.

Patsa said the owner confirmed that the truck belonged to them but denied knowing about or having any association with the drugs found inside.

“The truck owner confirmed ownership of the vehicle but denied any knowledge of or association with the drugs found inside it. Police have seized the drugs and impounded the truck pending further investigations and the apprehension of the driver. An enquiry has been opened, and investigations are underway,” Patsa said.

Police are continuing their investigation while efforts to trace and arrest the driver remain ongoing.