Gauteng authorities dismantle cannabis grow ops and investigate new school drug

Law enforcement and education authorities in Gauteng, South Africa, are addressing multiple drug-related concerns. The South African Police Service (SAPS) conducted two intelligence-driven raids in the Sedibeng policing district, uncovering illicit hydroponic cannabis facilities.

The first raid on August 28, 2026, in the De Deur area resulted in the arrest of two Jamaican men, two Malawians, and one Lesotho citizen. Police valued the unlicensed operation at R1 million and seized two firearms. A second raid on September 9, 2026, in Hartzenbergfontein uncovered a laboratory valued at R1.5 million, leading to the arrest of a 22-year-old Malawian man.

Separately, the Gauteng Education Department has launched investigations into a suspected new substance known as ‘oil spice’ being used by learners. The substance, described as an oil residue potentially associated with plastic products, has been reported in communities around the Sedibeng area. SAPS has taken samples of the residue for testing to determine its composition and effects.