A suspect remains on the run after traffic officers uncovered a large consignment of drugs during a routine vehicle check at the N2 Tsitsikamma Toll Plaza on Monday evening.

The Western Cape Mobility Department says traffic officers seized 15 large bags of compressed dagga in a vehicle travelling from the direction of Gqeberha.

The Minister of Mobility Isaac Sileku says two officers attached to the Knysna Provincial Traffic Centre stopped a vehicle during ongoing enforcement operations linked to foot-and-mouth disease control measures.

The driver, believed to be a foreign national, was arrested after failing to produce legal documentation for the consignment.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has since confirmed that the drugs seized are valued at about R1 million.

“The suspect, a Tanzanian national, remains in police custody. He is expected to make his first court appearance in the Plettenberg Bay Magistrates’ Court tomorrow on a charge of dealing in drugs.”

Sileku confirmed that the second suspect, a male passenger, managed to escape into a nearby forest while still handcuffed and remains at large. He further commended the officers for preventing the drugs from reaching communities.

“I commend them for their vigilance and quick action. Beyond enforcing traffic laws, officers play a critical role in combating serious criminal activity during roadblocks, patrols, and weighbridge operations.”

He added that drug interceptions on the province’s roads remain a key priority.

“Drugs are a major driver of violence and crime in our province, and by intercepting them on our roads, we are helping to keep our communities safe.”

Maxine Bezuidenhout, Chief Director of Traffic Management, said the operation highlights how traffic enforcement contributes to broader crime prevention.

“These outcomes demonstrate that traffic enforcement operations are also an important crime prevention tool, disrupting organised criminal networks that use the road network to transport illegal substances and contraband.”