Nigerian Man Re-Arrested in South Africa for Drug Dealing While Out on Bail

A 40-year-old Nigerian man has been arrested in Bethal, Mpumalanga, South Africa, for dealing in drugs—just as he was out on bail for a similar offence. The suspect had previously been arrested in June 2021 along with 11 others during Operation Dream On, an anti-drug initiative led by the Hawks, South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation.

Provincial Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi confirmed that the latest arrest took place on Friday during a coordinated operation based on intelligence gathered by several units, including the Secunda crime intelligence division, the Hawks’ serious organised crime investigation unit, and the Secunda K9 unit.

During the operation, officers found the suspect in possession of seven plastic bags containing substances believed to be crystal meth, two bags suspected to be kat, and nearly R10,000 in cash. The operation extended to the suspect’s residence, where a 34-year-old companion was found without legal documentation to be in the country.

Both individuals are expected to appear before the Bethal Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 19 May 2025, facing charges of drug dealing and contravention of the Immigration Act.

Commenting on the arrest, Major General Nico Gerber, the provincial head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, praised the operation and stressed the importance of tackling drug sources, not just street-level dealers. “We are not only interested in getting drugs off the streets, but our main focus is on the origin of drugs. Once we deal with manufacturers, we will have achieved our mission of rooting out drug-related activities in the province,” he said.