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Hitchhiker arrested after asking Hawks officer for a lift

Published

A 29-year-old man in the Northern Cape was found with 60 mandrax tablets and marijuana after the Hawks warrant officer who gave him a lift drove him to Upington Police Station. The Hawks said the drugs were worth thousands of rand.

The Hawks said the mandrax tablets have a street value of about R6,000. The marijuana was worth over R5,000. The officer works in the organised crime unit of the Hawks.

Hawks spokesperson Tebogo Thebe said the man fell asleep during the journey. He said the officer then drove straight to Upington Police Station to get proper help with a search.

Thebe said the search found mandrax, dagga and other items. The Hawks arrested the man for alleged drug possession.

Key facts

Who
Tebogo Thebe (Hawks spokesperson); Hawks (law enforcement agency; officer was a warrant officer in its organised crime…)
What
A 29-year-old hitchhiker who asked for a lift from a Hawks warrant officer was arrested after a search found 60 mandrax tablets (street value about R6,000) and marijuana valued at over R5,000. The officer drove directly to Upington Police Station to conduct the search.
When
20 October 2026
Where
Northern Cape, Kimberley, Upington
Status
Reported

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