Three caught peddling drugs in Operation Diamond

Three people, two men and a woman, are expected to appear in court after being caught selling drugs to police during Operation Diamond.

Three people who sold drugs to law enforcement officials are expected to appear in the Zastron Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

The suspects, two men aged 42 and 60, and a woman aged 42, face charges of dealing in drugs.

The three were arrested on Wednesday, August 26, during Operation Diamond conducted by members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (known as Hawks) in the Free State .

“They were arrested on Wednesday morning by a multidisciplinary team comprising the Hawks, Tactical Response Team (TRT), and Crime Intelligence (CI),” said the Hawks' provincial spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel Zweli Mohobeleli.

The suspects were identified by members of Crime Intelligence in 2025, after learning about the proliferation of crystal meth and mandrax in Zastron.

“Multiple mock transactions were conducted where the suspects sold drugs,” Mohobeleli said.

The head of the Hawks in the Free State, Major-General Mokgadi Bokaba, said the supply of drugs is the enabler of other criminal activities such as violent crimes and gangsterism.

"Cutting the supply of drugs to the town of Matlakeng will help deal with related crimes," she said.

Bokaba also commended the collaborative work with the Crime Intelligence division.