Lesotho woman arrested in KZN dagga bust
A security guard’s door-to-door rounds at the Villa Bugula flats in Brackenham, Richards Bay, led to the discovery of 123.5kg dagga worth about R123 500.
The guard had spotted a person inside the flat engaged in packaging the dagga after a child opened a door, Zululand Observer reported.
He alerted his Votella Security Services supervisor, and the Richards Bay police were called to the scene.
The dagga was found in 18 large containers, including plastic bin bags, baths, sacks and big buckets.
While most of the dagga was still in bulk, leaf form, some had already been “cleaned” and was in the process of being packed into smaller parcels.
One adult female suspect arrested was said to be a Lesotho national.
The dagga was believed to have been brought to Richards Bay from Matatiele in the north of the Eastern Cape.
Concern was later expressed over small children who were reportedly living in the flat where the drugs were recovered. Welfare services had been notified.
In a separate incident, the Hawks uncovered hydrophonic dagga-cultivating facility in Gauteng earlier this month.
Donee Kathleen Schmidt (51) in Klopperpark in Germiston, Ekhuruleni, had been arrested for cultivating and dealing in dagga.
Schmidt was arrested during an intelligence-driven operation that led the investigating team to her house in Welkom Street, Klopperpark.
Hawks spokesperson Paul Ramaloko said, on entering the house, the team found 120 dagga plants, including 50 mother plants growing in a room fitted with cooling facilities and lights, while some were planted in the garden.
“The woman is believed to be part of a criminal enterprise dealing in dagga,” he said.
“She appeared in the Germiston Magistrates’ Court and was released on R500 00 bail. The case was postponed to Janauary 7, 2015 for the closure of the case.”
Read more: Hydroponic dagga lab found in Lenasia
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