MASSIVE BUST: Sheppie Hawks swoop on six secret South Coast drug dens
Almost 4 376 dagga plants with a street value of some R26 265 000 were confiscated. Hawks spokesman Captain Simphiwe Mhlongo explains why the bust is significant.
AN undercover operation by the Port Shepstone Hawks, assisted by National Intervention Unit, dismantled six clandestine laboratories and arrested seven men aged between 27 and 39 years on Wednesday this week.
KwaZulu-Natal Hawks spokesman Captain Simphiwe Mhlongo said members swooped on the pre-identified farms and houses where suspects were caught processing dagga.
Almost 4 376 dagga plants with a street value of about R26 265 000 were confiscated.
Hawks at a property inland from Sea Park.
The Herald was tipped off on Wednesday by members of the public about the raids taking place in neighbourhoods such as Oslo Beach, Hibberdene, Sea Park and Ramsgate. The Lower South Coast SPCA was also called in to remove several dogs from these premises.
Dogs belonging to the suspects were handed over to the SPCA during the massive drug bust.
Cpt Mhlongo said that at these secluded places they found dagga plants, cultivating equipment and even a specialised hydroponics dagga laboratory.
He added that the operation was the result of a two-year project which was aimed arresting members of a syndicate and dismantling their associated structures which were used for cultivating and distributing indoor-grown dagga.
The drug was then being sold in Port Shepstone, Hibberdene and Margate.
“This is the ‘expensive dagga’ and investigations revealed it was being sold locally, in other provinces, and even outside the country. Dagga is also often mixed with a lot of other drugs or processed to make cannabis oil, for example,” he explained.
During Wednesday’s raid dagga plants, cultivating equipment and a specialised hydroponics dagga lab were found in Hibberdene.
Why is it important that the Hawks crack down on laboratories such as these?
Cpt Mhlongo pointed out that dagga is a problem in society.
“Those taking drugs are, in most cases, unemployed so where do they get the money to buy these drugs? he asked.”They commit crime in order to obtain property to sell and so get money to feed their habit.”
Some of the dagga plants discovered.
He added that these are well-organised syndicates, operating in secluded town houses and farms protected by high walls and electric fencing, making them difficult to access.
The Hawks uncovered huge dagga plantations at premises on the South Coast.
“Police are dealing with the end users while the Hawks are focusing on the drug manufacturers, dealers, and ‘runners’. The cultivation and distribution of cannabis forms part of organised crime… and it is a serious crime. A drug user doesn’t care about themselves and in most cases are high when they commit a crime. Illicit drug use, prostitution and unprotectedsex also often go hand-in-hand with drug use.
Cops raid an indoor grow room.
“The constitution of this country says drugs are not legal, therefore it is ILLEGAL to use drugs. If the Hawks close the taps on drugs, we will save our youth and country.”
The suspects are expected to appear in various Magistrate’s Courts on the South Coast.
Shona Aylward is a vastly experienced journalist working as a senior reporter. Aside from her extensive community involvement and story writing, she is also involved in creative page layout, and the various media platforms. Shona began her career with Caxton at the Southlands Sun. Previous to this she worked in the marketing industry for surf magazines. Shona is a renown 'greenie' and champions environmental causes. She is also Mom to a number of dogs and cats, and the occasional uninvited snake. When she can find some spare time, it's usually to the beach that she heads.
