Image above of police arresting street vendor for selling cannabis to school kids, courtesy IOL
This report from IOL, 22 September 2026
A man in his 40s was allegedly caught red-handed selling cannabis hidden in biscuit buckets to school pupils, in the Verulam CBD on Monday, 21 September 2022.
Prem Balram, head of Reaction Unit South Africa, said officers arrested the street vendor allegedly with the drugs and about R3,500 in cash after a pupil admitted purchasing cannabis from the man.
“The suspect operated on Wick Street in the Verulam CBD under the pretext of selling biscuits and sweets.
“He was found packaging the cannabis in full view of the public. During questioning, the man admitted that he had sold the substances to pupils and adults.
“He was handed over to police with the recovered items and cash,” Balram said.
Rachel Wilkin, spokesperson for the Verulam Community Police Forum (CPF), said they were concerned about the incident, which she said highlighted the fact that drug dealers were masquerading as street vendors, exploiting the law and the space where pupils were vulnerable.
“It is a societal problem and not just a police problem. This incident reinforces why the CPF has been calling for and participating in multi-agency visibility and enforcement operations aimed at addressing drug dealing and other criminal activity in and around the CBD, including activity linked to street trading.
“While an arrest is important, we must recognise that the problem does not end when one alleged dealer is removed from the street. One of our greatest concerns is the replacement cycle, when one person is arrested, another can quickly move into the same space and target the same vulnerable market.”
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