Central SA
Court grants bail to Free State dagga dealer─── 06:38 Sat, 16 Apr 2022
A man has been arrested for dealing in dagga in Virginia, Free State.
Jakobus Lourens, who was arrested by the Hawks, appeared in the Virginia Magistrate's Court on Thursday.
He has been charged with dealing with and operating a hydroponic cannabis laboratory.
Police spokesperson Philani Nkwalase says the suspect used the garage and the outer building of his premises to cultivate cannabis.
“A variety of equipment which includes several items like growing lights, chemicals, humidifier and several dagga plants were allegedly found in the garage.
“Small bottles containing different dagga seeds, a bucket of dried dagga and plastic labels with different cultivation names.
"In the deep freezer, several packets of raw dagga were found as well as in the main bedroom. The matter was later referred to the Hawks for further investigation. The all-inclusive value of cannabis and equipment surpasses R70 000.”
Lourens has been released on R3000 bail and will return to court later this month.
