Police in Ghanzi have arrested four Batswana men found in possession of large quantities of suspected marijuana during a Monday morning operation in Kgaphamadi ward.
According to Ghanzi Station Commander, Superintendent Moilwa George, police acted on a public tip-off indicating that four individuals held a substantial amount of the illicit plant.
Following investigations, officers located the suspects, aged 24 to 35, allegedly holding 14 green supermarket-sized bags of the substance. Superintendent George estimated the haul weighed approximately seven kilograms, carrying an estimated street value of nearly P21,000.
Confirming all four suspects are Batswana nationals, George noted that marijuana possession and trafficking cases continue to surge within the district.
“We continue to record several cases of this nature in the area, with many involving drugs trafficked into Ghanzi,” George said.
The latest arrests come amid growing concern over the scale of marijuana trafficking and drug-related crimes across Botswana. Findings from the 2025 National Risk Assessment (NRA) Report indicate that marijuana remains the nation’s drug of choice, accounting for the largest share of the illicit drug trade.
According to the report, marijuana accounted for more than P48.7 million of the P61.58 million linked to the drug trade between 2020 and 2024. Authorities revealed the trade is largely driven by highly organised cross-border syndicates, with intelligence suggesting most marijuana entering Botswana originates from Eswatini.
Despite the transnational nature of the supply chain, the report found that local citizens dominate domestic distribution networks. Of the 720 individuals convicted of drug trafficking offences during the review period, 95 percent were Batswana, while foreign nationals from Zimbabwe, South Africa, Zambia, and Tanzania comprised the remaining five percent.
The NRA report also highlighted the increasing sophistication of trafficking networks, noting that syndicates rely heavily on electronic payments and Money Value Transfer Services (MVTS) to conduct cross-border transactions while evading law enforcement detection.
Police statistics within the report paint a stark picture of the growing burden on law enforcement, with 6,553 nationwide drug investigations launched between 2020 and 2024. During this period, 454 cases were prosecuted, resulting in 324 successful prosecutions and 720 convictions.
The NRA warns that beyond its financial impact, the drug trade drives severe social and economic challenges. The report links marijuana and synthetic drug abuse to rising public health costs, mental health complications, unemployment, household instability, and increased pressure on policing and border security resources.
Superintendent George also cautioned members of the public about the health dangers associated with marijuana use.
“People should understand that marijuana abuse can lead to serious mental health problems, including hallucinations and other psychological effects,” George said.
He commended residents who provide information to law enforcement, noting community cooperation plays a critical role in arrests and crime prevention.
“The public is doing an admirable job by sharing information that helps police make arrests, and we encourage them to continue supporting these efforts,” George said.
He added that the Botswana Police Service continues to intensify community outreach and awareness campaigns aimed at discouraging crime and educating communities about the dangers of drug abuse.
The latest case follows another major marijuana matter reported in April 2026, where a Zimbabwean national appeared before the Ghanzi Magistrate’s Court after police discovered a 500-kilogram plantation of suspected dagga at a local farm. The suspect was charged with unlawful cultivation and possession, remaining remanded in custody pending further investigations.
