In a joint operation between Ladysmith police and Newcastle Public Order Policing (POP), five people were arrested on Friday for drug and liquor-related offences. The operation was aimed at crime ‘hot-spot’ areas in Ladysmith, with special emphasis on combatting offences involving liquor and drugs.
At about 9am, police arrested a 28-year-old woman in Lyell Street after she was found in possession of almost 60 grams of dagga.
Police then spotted a suspicious-acting man in the Lyell Street taxi rank. Upon noticing police, the 30-year-old man fled on foot. Police gave chase and when they stopped him, they found a knife as well as just over 140 grams of dagga in his possession.
These two arrests were followed by a third when a 19-year-old woman was arrested in the Alexander Road bus rank.
She was found in possession of 19.2kg of dagga with a street value of around R40,000 and will face charges of dealing in dagga.
A fourth arrest for possession of dagga was also made at the Lyell Street taxi rank after a 25-year-old man was found in possession of almost 22 grams of the drug.
The arrest total went up to five after a 54-year-old man was arrested for selling liquor without a licence. Three crates of liquor and empty bottles were seized.
Another 11kg of dagga was seized after it was found abandoned in the Lyell Street taxi rank.
The five suspects are all set to appear in the Ladysmith Magistrate’s Court today (Monday).
