A 48-year-old cannabis farmer accused of dealing in dagga worth R3 million is expected to appear in the Brits Magistrate's Court on Friday.
Russel de Beer was arrested on November 9 after the serious organized crime unit of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, better known as the Hawks, swooped in on a hydroponic dagga farm outside Brits in the North West.
He is facing charges of contravening the Medicine and Related Substances Act and dealing in dagga.
Over 500 kg worth of cannabis worth approximately R3 million, hydroponic tunnels for cannabis cultivation, various apparatus for processing and oil extraction and other numerous cannabis products, were seized during the raid.
De Beer allegedly sells franchises for cannabis dispensaries and is a major supplier of cannabis and cannabis-related products in the country.
According to reports, he was arrested in 2004 after 1.2 tons of dagga was found at his Kameeldrift farm outside Brits, the case was withdrawn and he sued the State for R2.6 million.
The High Court in Pretoria dismissed his application and he approached the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein but, also lost with cost.
De Beer also runs a shop in Brits called Canapax where plants and other related health products are sold.
- African News Agency (ANA)
