Police clamp down on smugglers
Local police have stopped tons of dagga from going beyond the Nkomazi border.
MALALANE – This was a result of a week-long special operation by the officer’s aimed at intercepting smugglers last week.
According to the station’s spokesman, Sgt Bheki Nkosi, their intention was to arrest those involved in the transportation of dagga and any other illicit goods.
“This operation was just especially for that, we started very early on Monday morning. And as early as 05:30 we already had our first arrest for the day. The 28-year-old Ms Salome Maphosa, was arrested for possession of illicit Sarahi cigarettes worth R2 000,” Nkosi said.
Maphosa appeared in the Malelane Magistrate’s Court the very same day and was denied bail.
She went to court on July 22, where she was denied bail.
On Monday she appeared for the third time and was granted bail on condition that she attended all court dates.
The case was transferred to Barberton, and her next court date will be August 17.
When the operation continued on July 21, there suspects were arrested for transporting dagga.
“The following individuals were arrested on the second day of the operation, Mr Sipho Mhlongo (33), Mr Vusi Shabangu (42), and Ms Carol Khoza (26). They were all released on fines when they appeared in court. Mhlongo received a R1600 fine, Shabangu R1 500, and Khoza received a R2 500 fine,” Nkosi added.
On the fourth day of the operation more arrests were made.
“The 26-year-old Mr Sibonakaliso Ndlela, was arrested for possession of dagga. He was fined R1 000, Mr Sipho Manana (30) was also arrested and fined R300 for his crime. Ms Portia Sithole (39), received the heaviest fine of R4 000,” Nkosi said.
Nkosi said that they would continue with such programmes.
He said, “Random operations of this nature will continue to happen, we will not stop. This is what we call crime depending on our own action, police action. We become proactive, we do not wait for anything to happen and a crime to be reported.”
Station commander, Lt Col Matshidiso Mlambo, applauded the efforts of the men and women in blue for their determination and commitment in making the operation of clamping down on dealers a success.
Nkosi furthermore thanked locals for reporting such crimes, and also reassured the community that all information received was confidential.
“We need the members of the community to be the eyes and ears of the police,” he concluded.
