A 57-year-old Nigerian national has been arrested in Matafeni, near Nelspruit in Mpumalanga, after police uncovered cocaine valued at an estimated R250,000 during a targeted operation.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the arrest followed an intelligence-driven investigation into suspected drug storage at a residential property in the area. Law enforcement officials acted on information suggesting that narcotics were being kept at the house for distribution.
The early-morning raid was carried out on Wednesday, 18 February 2026, by a multidisciplinary team comprising SAPS Provincial Organised Crime Investigation members, the White River K9 unit, and the Pienaar Tactical Response Team. Upon arrival at the property, officers found the suspect inside the house and presented him with a valid search warrant before proceeding with the search.
During the operation, police discovered and seized cocaine with an estimated street value of R250,000. The drugs were confiscated and will undergo forensic analysis as part of the ongoing investigation.
The suspect, identified as Patrick Izuchukwu Udeh, was subsequently arrested and charged with dealing in drugs. He appeared before the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on the same day, where the case was postponed to 3 March 2026 for further proceedings.
During questioning, the accused allegedly told police that the drugs did not belong to him. He claimed that a friend had left the cocaine at his residence for safekeeping in late January 2026. According to his statement, the alleged owner of the narcotics fled to Johannesburg after learning that police were searching for him and is currently in hiding. Authorities have indicated that investigations are continuing and that efforts are underway to trace the individual mentioned by the suspect.
Acting Mpumalanga Provincial Commissioner, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, praised the officers involved in the operation for their swift and coordinated response. He reaffirmed that police in the province maintain a zero-tolerance approach to drug-related crimes and warned that those involved in the distribution and storage of illegal substances will face the full might of the law.
The arrest forms part of broader efforts by law enforcement agencies across South Africa to clamp down on drug trafficking networks. In a separate international case, an Australian court recently sentenced convicted smuggler Ahmed Haouchar to 10 years in prison for his role in trafficking cocaine linked to Gauteng. The case involved a R450-million shipment that was smuggled from OR Tambo International Airport to Sydney in October 2023, where authorities intercepted 100kg of cocaine concealed in the cargo hold of a passenger aircraft.
Meanwhile, other drug busts in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng have resulted in the seizure of narcotics worth millions of rand, highlighting the scale of the problem facing authorities.
Police have urged members of the public to continue providing information that could assist in combating drug trafficking and organised crime. As investigations into the Matafeni case continue, authorities remain determined to track down all individuals connected to the seized cocaine and ensure they are brought to justice.
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