Dagga traffickers arrested, tried, found guilty and sentenced
On Monday morning three suspects appeared before the Malalane Periodic Court on charges of drug trafficking.
MALALANE – On Monday morning three suspects appeared before the Malalane Periodic Court on charges of drug trafficking.
This follows their arrest during a random stop-and-search operation by local law enforcement which began last Friday and ended on Sunday.
Speaking to Corridor Gazette on Tuesday morning SAPS spokesman, Lt Bheki Nkosi, credited these arrests to proactive policing.
Nkosi stated that this special operation aimed to mainly address the issue of drug trafficking, which was prevalent in Nkomazi.
He said, “On Friday at 05:30 we started stopping and searching vehicles. The first suspect who was arrested was, Ms Fikile Nkhambule, who was travelling by bus. To avoid delaying the bus’ schedule, officers boarded it to do their search and a police van followed it from behind, 1,37 kilograms of dagga was found in Fikile’s possession.”
The street value of the consignment found in Nkhambule’s possession is R2 056,50, she was fined R500 or serves five months’ imprisonment. She was released after paying the fine.
The second arrest also happened on Friday at around 07:00, it also was from a public transport stop and search.
“A taxi coming from Schoemansdal was stopped for a random search. This time police arrested 48-year-old, Mr Bongane Dube, who was trafficking 1,97 kilograms of dagga.” Nkosi added.
The street value of the Dube’s package was R2 968.50, he was fined R2 000, and was released after paying it.
As the operation continued police made their greatest dagga bust with a random body search of a civilian at a hiking spot.
“On Sunday while the search continued, Mr Siyabonga Kunene, was apprehended at the hiking spot towards Mbombela after police found 7,84 kilograms of dagga in his possession. This was yet again another random search by the SAPS,” Nkosi explained.
Kunene was fined R6 000 or six months’ imprisonment. He is currently serving his sentence after failing to make payment.
“Kunene remained in police custody after appearing in court and failing to pay fine. Today he is being transferred to the Mbombela prison, where he will serve his sentence,” Nkosi said.
Nkosi furthermore warned that operations of this nature would continue.
He said, “We won’t specify dates for security reasons. So this is a stern warning to potential drug traffickers that we won’t fold our arms and allow them to destroy the nation, that we are constitutionally mandated to protect. We are no longer playing or sitting back. The road of drug trafficking is narrowing.”
